What is a cafeteria operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a cafeteria operator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $17.09 an hour? That's $35,552 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 10% and produce 32,300 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreCafeteria OperatorUS Average
Salary
2.8

Avg. Salary $35,552

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
9.1

Growth Rate 10%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.55%

Asian 9.90%

Black or African American 7.87%

Hispanic or Latino 15.61%

Unknown 4.75%

White 61.32%

Gender

female 83.33%

male 16.67%

Age - 38
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38
Stress Level
9.1

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
5.3

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
5.0

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a cafeteria operator

  1. Explore cafeteria operator education requirements

    Most common cafeteria operator degrees

    High School Diploma

    66.7 %

    Diploma

    33.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific cafeteria operator skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Food Safety43.65%
    Kitchen Equipment43.30%
    Food Temperatures13.06%
  3. Complete relevant cafeteria operator training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New cafeteria operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a cafeteria operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real cafeteria operator resumes.
  4. Research cafeteria operator duties and responsibilities

    • Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
    • Monitor combat missions through satellite and computer global positioning systems in order to prepare accurate reports for unit commanders.
    • Identify business through analyzing results, sales plan and effectively utilize payroll hours
  5. Apply for cafeteria operator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a cafeteria operator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Cafeteria Operator Job

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Average cafeteria operator salary

The average Cafeteria Operator salary in the United States is $35,552 per year or $17 per hour. Cafeteria operator salaries range between $26,000 and $47,000 per year.

Average Cafeteria Operator Salary
$35,552 Yearly
$17.09 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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