by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Institutional Food Workers explores Institutional Food Workers. A Program That Prepares Individuals In Production And Service Used In Governmental, Commercial Or Independently Owned Institutional Food Establishments And Related Food Industry Occupations. Includes Instruction In Selecting, Storing, Preparing, And Serving Food And Food Products; Basic Nutrition; Sanitation, And Food Safety; The Use And Care Of Commercial Equipment; Serving Techniques; And The Operation Of Institutional Food Establishments. Continue reading for the essential details every institutional food workers student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering institutional food workers programs.
In the U.S., institutional food workers is a popular field of study, with 181 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Institutional Food Workers Schools ranking analyzes these 13 schools to determine the best overall colleges for institutional food workers students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of institutional food workers programs later in this article.
Programs in Institutional Food Workers build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations institutional food workers graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a institutional food workers program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a institutional food workers major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several institutional food workers degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 35 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 31 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 115 |
People currently working in careers related to institutional food workers tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 71.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 14.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 6.8% |
| Some college courses | 5.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in institutional food workers careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying institutional food workers prepares you for a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to institutional food workers.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to institutional food workers.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | 395,624 | 0.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of institutional food workers graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $24,617 |
| 4 years | $29,033 |
| 5 years | $32,264 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for institutional food workers graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers institutional food workers grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,453 |
With 13 different institutional food workers programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased institutional food workers school rankings to help you.
Students interested in institutional food workers, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
