Jobs Similar to Cooks (Institution and Cafeteria)
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to cooks (institution and cafeteria), according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Cooks (Fast Food), Cooks (Restaurant) and Food Servers.
Cooks (Institution and Cafeteria): $37,450 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Cooks (Institution and Cafeteria)) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cooks, Fast FoodSame group | 80% | $30,890−18% | High school |
| 2 | Cooks, RestaurantSame group | 79% | $37,3900% | High school |
| 3 | Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | 79% | $35,360−6% | High school |
| 4 | Butchers and Meat Cutters | 78% | $40,140+7% | High school |
| 5 | Bakers | 77% | $37,160−1% | High school |
| 6 | Cooks, Short OrderSame group | 76% | $35,880−4% | High school |
| 7 | Food Preparation WorkersSame group | 75% | $35,320−6% | High school |
| 8 | Slaughterers and Meat Packers | 75% | $40,130+7% | High school |
| 9 | Chefs and Head Cooks | 74% | $62,470+67% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | 74% | $31,200−17% | High school |
| 11 | Dietetic Technicians | 73% | $37,640+1% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 73% | $35,510−5% | High school |
| 13 | Bartenders | 73% | $34,340−8% | High school |
| 14 | Stockers and Order Fillers | 73% | $37,3300% | High school |
| 15 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | 73% | $33,980−9% | High school |
| 16 | Cooks, Private HouseholdSame group | 72% | $47,940+28% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Food Batchmakers | 72% | $42,290+13% | High school |
| 18 | Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | 72% | $41,590+11% | High school |
| 19 | Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | 72% | $38,300+2% | High school |
| 20 | Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | 71% | $46,380+24% | High school |
- 1Cooks, Fast Food
80% similar · $30,890 (−18%) · High school · Same group
- 2Cooks, Restaurant
79% similar · $37,390 (0%) · High school · Same group
- 3Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
79% similar · $35,360 (−6%) · High school
- 4Butchers and Meat Cutters
78% similar · $40,140 (+7%) · High school
- 5Bakers
77% similar · $37,160 (−1%) · High school
- 6Cooks, Short Order
76% similar · $35,880 (−4%) · High school · Same group
- 7Food Preparation Workers
75% similar · $35,320 (−6%) · High school · Same group
- 8Slaughterers and Meat Packers
75% similar · $40,130 (+7%) · High school
- 9Chefs and Head Cooks
74% similar · $62,470 (+67%) · Training or associate
- 10Fast Food and Counter Workers
74% similar · $31,200 (−17%) · High school
- 11Dietetic Technicians
73% similar · $37,640 (+1%) · Training or associate
- 12Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
73% similar · $35,510 (−5%) · High school
- 13Bartenders
73% similar · $34,340 (−8%) · High school
- 14Stockers and Order Fillers
73% similar · $37,330 (0%) · High school
- 15Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
73% similar · $33,980 (−9%) · High school
- 16Cooks, Private Household
72% similar · $47,940 (+28%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 17Food Batchmakers
72% similar · $42,290 (+13%) · High school
- 18Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
72% similar · $41,590 (+11%) · High school
- 19Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
72% similar · $38,300 (+2%) · High school
- 20Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping
71% similar · $46,380 (+24%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than cooks (institution and cafeteria).
- Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping71% similar · $46,380 (+24%)
- Food Batchmakers72% similar · $42,290 (+13%)
- Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders72% similar · $41,590 (+11%)
- Butchers and Meat Cutters78% similar · $40,140 (+7%)
- Slaughterers and Meat Packers75% similar · $40,130 (+7%)
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers72% similar · $38,300 (+2%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for cooks (institution and cafeteria) also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where cooks (institution and cafeteria) is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like cooks (institution and cafeteria)
What jobs are most similar to cooks (institution and cafeteria)?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Cooks (Fast Food) (80% similar), Cooks (Restaurant) (79% similar), Food Servers (79% similar), Butchers and Meat Cutters (78% similar) and Bakers (77% similar).
Which jobs like cooks (institution and cafeteria) pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Chefs and Head Cooks ($62,470, +67%; usually training or an associate degree), Cooks (Private Household) ($47,940, +28%; usually training or an associate degree) and Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping ($46,380, +24%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with cooks (institution and cafeteria) ($37,450). Without more preparation than cooks (institution and cafeteria) usually need: Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping, Food Batchmakers and Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.