Best institutions to study 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.
13 U.S. institutions graduated 187 Institutional Food Workers students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 12.0508, a specialization of Culinary Arts and Related Services (CIP 12.05), and leads most directly to the Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria occupation (BLS SOC 35-2012).
About Institutional Food Workers programs
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.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Institutional Food Workers program prepares individuals for careers in the culinary field, specifically within governmental, commercial, or independently owned institutional food establishments. This program is ideal for those interested in food production and service, focusing on the skills necessary to operate effectively in various food-related environments. Students will gain practical knowledge in selecting, storing, preparing, and serving food, alongside essential training in nutrition, sanitation, and food safety. This program is designed for aspiring food service professionals who wish to excel in institutional settings such as schools, hospitals, and cafeterias.
Core coursework includes training in food production techniques, customer service, and the operation of commercial kitchen equipment. Students will develop essential skills such as monitoring food safety, cooking according to dietary restrictions, and effective communication.
Credentials awarded
What Institutional Food Workers graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year119 graduates / yr · 7 institutions64%
- Associate's degree25 graduates / yr · 4 institutions13%
- Award of less than 12 weeks22 graduates / yr · 1 institution12%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years21 graduates / yr · 3 institutions11%
Graduates over time
Institutional Food Workers completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 259 |
| 2013 | 261 |
| 2014 | 183 |
| 2015 | 182 |
| 2016 | 239 |
| 2017 | 161 |
| 2018 | 196 |
| 2019 | 193 |
| 2020 | 174 |
| 2021 | 157 |
| 2022 | 204 |
| 2023 | 214 |
| 2024 | 181 |
| 2025 | 187 |
Top 13 institutions for Institutional Food Workers, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamar Institute of Technology Beaumont, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 37 | 31% | — | — |
| 2 | Central Arizona College Coolidge, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 32 | 27% | — | — |
| 3 | Pierpont Community and Technical College Fairmont, WVPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAssociate's | 31 | 42% | — | $26,399 |
| 4 | Horry - Georgetown Technical College Conway, SCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 21 | 38% | — | $24,466 |
| 5 | Greenville Technical College Greenville, SCPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 19 | 21% | — | $26,268 |
| 6 | Trident Technical College Charleston, SCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 11 | 30% | — | — |
| 7 | Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NEPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | 38% | — | $36,734 |
| 8 | ECPI University Virginia Beach, VAPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 9 | 42% | $21,909 | $23,320 |
| 9 | Carteret Community College Morehead City, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 49% | — | — |
| 10 | Delaware County Community College Media, PAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 5 | 24% | — | — |
| 11 | Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute Albuquerque, NMPublicAssociate's | 3 | 14% | — | — |
| 12 | Jefferson County DuBois Area Vocational Technical School Reynoldsville, PAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 30% | — | — |
| 13 | Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake City, UTPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1 | 29% | — | $31,788 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Culinary Arts and Related Services field (CIP 12.05) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 10 states
Where Institutional Food Workers graduates come from. Each state links to all Culinary Arts and Related Services programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 3 | 51 | Horry - Georgetown Technical College21 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 37 | Lamar Institute of Technology37 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 32 | Central Arizona College32 / yr |
| West Virginia | 1 | 31 | Pierpont Community and Technical College31 / yr |
| Nebraska | 1 | 9 | Southeast Community College Area9 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 9 | ECPI University9 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 7 | Delaware County Community College5 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 7 | Carteret Community College7 / yr |
| New Mexico | 1 | 3 | Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute3 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 1 | Salt Lake Community College1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 35-2012, Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Institutional Food Workers program can pursue careers as Cooks in institutions and cafeterias. With an annual growth rate of 2.0% and approximately 69,700 job openings each year, the median wage for this occupation is $36,450. Typically, no formal educational credential is required for entry-level positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 12.0508
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteriaprimary SOC 35-2012 | $37,450 | +2.0% About as fast as average | ~69,700 | No formal educational credential |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Institutional Food Workers programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Monitor and record food temperatures to ensure food safety.
- Cook foodstuffs according to menus, special dietary or nutritional restrictions, or numbers of portions to be served.
- Rotate and store food supplies.
- Wash pots, pans, dishes, utensils, or other cooking equipment.
- Apportion and serve food to facility residents, employees, or patrons.
- Clean and inspect galley equipment, kitchen appliances, and work areas to ensure cleanliness and functional operation.
Tools and technology used
Other Culinary Arts and Related Services specializations
The 11 other 6-digit CIP codes under Culinary Arts and Related Services (CIP 12.05).
- Culinary Arts/CIP 12.0503
Chef Training 11,808 graduates / yr353 institutions - Baking and Pastry Arts/CIP 12.0501
Baker/ Pastry Chef 5,575 graduates / yr193 institutions - Cooking and Related Culinary ArtsCIP 12.05004,439 graduates / yr153 institutions
- Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/CIP 12.0504
Manager 1,663 graduates / yr115 institutions - Food Preparation/CIP 12.0505
Professional Cooking/ Kitchen Assistant 1,230 graduates / yr56 institutions - Culinary Arts and Related ServicesCIP 12.0599312 graduates / yr17 institutions
- Culinary Science/CIP 12.0509
Culinology partial data261 graduates / yr8 institutions - Bartending/CIP 12.0502
Bartender partial data171 graduates / yr8 institutions - Food Service, Waiter/CIP 12.0507
Waitress, and Dining Room Management/ Manager partial data129 graduates / yr9 institutions - Meat Cutting/CIP 12.0506
Meat Cutter 48 graduates / yr10 institutions - Wine Steward/CIP 12.0510
Sommelier limited data12 graduates / yr2 institutions
Common questions
What types of credentials can I earn?+
You can earn an Award of at least 12 weeks, an Associate's degree, or other shorter awards.
How many colleges offer this program?+
There are 13 colleges in the U.S. that offer the Institutional Food Workers program.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in monitoring, cooking, active listening, and critical thinking.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is about average, with 2.0% growth and 69,700 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Institutional Food Workers?+
Institutional Food Workers is CIP 12.0508 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Culinary Arts and Related Services (CIP 12.05). NCES defines it as: 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.
How many institutions offer Institutional Food Workers programs?+
13 U.S. institutions reported Institutional Food Workers graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 10 states, awarding 187 credentials in the year. That is 0.7% of all Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates.
How much do Institutional Food Workers graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria occupation, which Institutional Food Workers most directly leads to, pays a median of $37,450 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Culinary Arts and Related Services field report median earnings of $26,399 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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