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What is a dietary cook and how to become one
Dietary cooks are responsible for preparing and serving meals according to the cycles menu. They monitor food handling methods and perform assigned work and cleaning routines for the dietary department while maintaining compliance with all applicable laws and regulatory and organizational standards. They also cook and serve food that follows specific, predetermined standards and nutritional or dietary guidelines. Dietary cooks earn an average salary of $24,000 annually or $12 per hour.
Dietary cooks are professionals who are passionate about what they do and perform lots of duties. Some of them include preparing food for the residents, assisting any residents that need help eating their meals, and assisting in the clean up, kitchen maintenance, setting up, and taking down the dining areas. They also deliver food to residents' rooms, prepare and serve snacks, and take inventory of food and kitchen supplies.
Dietary cooks typically hold a high school diploma or its equivalent. They are expected to have proven experience with food preparation and nutrition. Some employers prefer candidates with attention to detail, a food handler's card, and in-depth knowledge of the protocols and procedures for their facilities, as well as the rules and regulations for the states where they work.
Avg. Salary $27,365
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate 16%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.21%
Asian 8.16%
Black or African American 9.09%
Hispanic or Latino 15.05%
Unknown 4.80%
White 61.68%
Genderfemale 64.66%
male 35.34%
Age - 37American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 37Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Dietary Cook career paths
Key steps to become a dietary cook
Explore dietary cook education requirements
Start to develop specific dietary cook skills
Skills 
Percentages Patients 15.76% Food Handling 15.52% Food Service 12.55% Kitchen Equipment 8.67% Meal Service 6.81% Complete relevant dietary cook training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New dietary cooks 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 dietary cook based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real dietary cook resumes.Gain additional dietary cook certifications
More About CertificationsDietary cook certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific dietary cook certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for dietary cooks include ServSafe Alcohol and Certified Food Manager (CFM).
Research dietary cook duties and responsibilities
- Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
- Provide attention and compassion to all resident's.
- Train with culinary chefs and staff members on dinning facility services and organization.
- Utilize a broad range of culinary skills to include grill and saute as well as salad and deserts.
Prepare your dietary cook resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your dietary cook resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a dietary cook resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Dietary Cook Resume templates
Build a professional Dietary Cook resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Dietary Cook resume.
Apply for dietary cook jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a dietary cook job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Dietary Cook Job
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Average dietary cook salary
The average Dietary Cook salary in the United States is $27,365 per year or $13 per hour. Dietary cook salaries range between $21,000 and $34,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do dietary cooks rate their job?
Dietary Cook reviews
I love to cook make arts everyday from cooking most especially making salads
I don’t like to be underestimated in my field, I don’t like to be looked down on in my field
It’s an honest day’s work. Lots of lifting and walking around. Pots and pans to scrub, pantries to organize. You won’t be bored for a second, there’s always something to do.
At the end of the day, you’re body is so tired. From doing this much heavy work you’d expect a decent pay check. You won’t make enough to rent an apartment with this job.
Updated January 8, 2025
