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Cafeteria Associate Jobs in Jackson, MS (NOW HIRING)

Child Nutrition Staff (Current)

Jackson, MS · On-site

$12.25 - $16/hr

Ambition Prep seeks an experienced part-time food service associate who will be responsible for performing a variety of job functions essential to the successful operation of the school cafeteria.

FOOD SERVICE WORKER (FULL TIME)

Pearl, MS

$13 - $15.75/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... the cafeteria happier and healthier than they came in, by serving food kids love to eat and creating custom dining programs. With more than 16,000 associates in 4,300 schools, ranging from large ...

FOOD SERVICE WORKER

Pearl, MS · On-site

$12.50 - $15.25/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... the cafeteria happier and healthier than they came in, by serving food kids love to eat and creating custom dining programs. With more than 16,000 associates in 4,300 schools, ranging from large ...

FOOD SERVICE WORKER (FULL TIME)

Pearl, MS · On-site

$12.50 - $15.25/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... the cafeteria happier and healthier than they came in, by serving food kids love to eat and creating custom dining programs. With more than 16,000 associates in 4,300 schools, ranging from large ...

FOOD SERVICE WORKER (FULL TIME)

Pearl, MS · On-site

$12.50 - $15.25/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... the cafeteria happier and healthier than they came in, by serving food kids love to eat and creating custom dining programs. With more than 16,000 associates in 4,300 schools, ranging from large ...

... our associate's cafeteria. Here is what you will be doing each day: As the Housekeeping Manager, you will be hiring and leading the housekeeping staff to ensure excellent quality of service to our ...

Cashier

Flowood, MS · On-site

$9.75 - $13.50/hr

... that cafeteria sales are accurately transacted. Additional responsibilities include, but are not ... Associate's degree preferred, • Previous experience as a cashier required. • Organized and able ...

FOOD SERVICE WORKER (FULL TIME)

Raymond, MS

$13.25 - $16.25/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... the cafeteria happier and healthier than they came in, by serving food kids love to eat and creating custom dining programs. With more than 16,000 associates in 4,300 schools, ranging from large ...

FOOD SERVICE WORKER (FULL TIME)

Raymond, MS

$13.25 - $16.25/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... the cafeteria happier and healthier than they came in, by serving food kids love to eat and creating custom dining programs. With more than 16,000 associates in 4,300 schools, ranging from large ...

FOOD SERVICE WORKER (FULL TIME)

Raymond, MS · On-site

$13.25 - $16.25/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... the cafeteria happier and healthier than they came in, by serving food kids love to eat and creating custom dining programs. With more than 16,000 associates in 4,300 schools, ranging from large ...

FOOD SERVICE WORKER

Raymond, MS · On-site

$13.25 - $16.25/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... the cafeteria happier and healthier than they came in, by serving food kids love to eat and creating custom dining programs. With more than 16,000 associates in 4,300 schools, ranging from large ...

Cafeteria Associate information

See Jackson, MS salary details

$12

$14

$18

How much do cafeteria associate jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for cafeteria associate in Jackson, MS is $14.62, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.85 and $15.48 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Cafeteria Associate vs Food Service Worker?

AspectCafeteria AssociateFood Service Worker
CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; food safety certification often preferredHigh school diploma or equivalent; food safety certification often required
Work EnvironmentSchool cafeterias, cafeterias in institutionsRestaurants, cafeterias, catering services
Employer & IndustryEducational institutions, school districtsRestaurants, catering companies, institutional food services
Job DutiesServing students, cashiering, food prep, cleaningPreparing and serving food, cleaning, customer service

Both roles involve food service in institutional settings, often requiring similar certifications and skills. However, Cafeteria Associates primarily work in school environments serving students, while Food Service Workers may work in a broader range of food service settings like restaurants and catering. The core responsibilities overlap, but the work environment and specific duties differ slightly.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a cafeteria associate, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Cafeteria Associate, you need basic food preparation skills, knowledge of food safety standards, and often a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with point-of-sale (POS) systems, commercial kitchen equipment, and proper sanitation procedures is typically required. Strong teamwork, customer service, and time management abilities help individuals excel in this fast-paced environment. These skills ensure efficient service, customer satisfaction, and compliance with health regulations.

What is a cafeteria associate?

Cafeteria Associates are staff members who work in cafeterias, often in schools, hospitals, or corporate settings, to help prepare, serve, and sometimes cook food. They are responsible for ensuring that food is served safely and efficiently, maintaining cleanliness in dining and kitchen areas, handling cash registers or payment systems, and providing customer service to patrons. Their role is essential for the smooth operation of food service in large institutions, and they often work as part of a team under the supervision of a cafeteria manager or supervisor.

What are some common challenges faced by cafeteria associates, and how can they be managed effectively?

Cafeteria Associates often encounter challenges such as managing high customer volumes during peak meal times, maintaining cleanliness under tight schedules, and addressing diverse dietary needs. Effective time management and clear communication with team members can help in prioritizing tasks and ensuring smooth service. Additionally, being adaptable and following established food safety protocols are essential for delivering quality meals and a positive dining experience.

What are the most commonly searched types of Cafeteria jobs in Jackson, MS?

The most popular types of Cafeteria jobs in Jackson, MS are:

What are popular job titles related to Cafeteria Associate jobs in Jackson, MS?

For Cafeteria Associate jobs in Jackson, MS, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Cafeteria Associate jobs in Jackson, MS look for?

The top searched job categories for Cafeteria Associate jobs in Jackson, MS are:

What cities near Jackson, MS are hiring for Cafeteria Associate jobs?

Cities near Jackson, MS with the most Cafeteria Associate job openings:

Infographic showing various Cafeteria Associate job openings in Jackson, MS as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 66% Full Time, 30% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $30,418 per year, or $14.6 per hour.

Child Nutrition Staff (Current)

Ambition Prep

Jackson, MS • On-site

$12.25 - $16/hr

Other

Posted 11 days ago


Job description

Ambition Prep Food Service Associate

Ambition Preparatory Charter School is deeply committed to ensuring that every student in grades K-8 receives the high-quality education they deserve. Our mission is to provide students with the academic skills and self-discipline needed for college and life success through high-quality instruction, intensive academic supports, and hard work. We are a new college preparatory elementary and middle school serving the students of Jackson, MS.

Ambition Prep seeks an experienced part-time food service associate who will be responsible for performing a variety of job functions essential to the successful operation of the school cafeteria. Job functions include food production; meal service; food acceptability; customer service; sanitation, safety, and security; receiving, storage, and inventory; program regulations and accountability; equipment use and care; professional excellence. The School Nutrition Program provides an environment that supports healthy food habits while maintaining program integrity and customer satisfaction.

Responsibilities and Duties
  • Prepares school breakfasts (where applicable), lunches, and afternoon snacks
  • Withdraws and prepares appropriate amounts of food from inventory each day, as directed by the food service coordinator
  • Adheres to standardized recipes
  • Sets up the serving line and breakfast carts (where applicable) each day, ensuring:
    • All items on the menu are placed on the serving line/breakfast carts in the proper order, in the proper amounts, at the proper temperatures, and on time
    • Correct serving utensils are in place
    • Condiments and cutlery are provided
    • Uses serving utensils correctly to ensure correct portions are served
    • Understands what constitutes a reimbursable meal under Offer Versus Serve (OVS) and ensures that OVS is properly implemented for both breakfast and lunch
    • Serves students quickly and efficiently to adhere to the school's meal schedules
    • Prepares and serves meals of the highest quality that encourages student consumption and participation in the school breakfast and lunch programs.
    • Provides outstanding customer service to students, parents, staff, visitors, and fellow employees.
  • Follows all local health department requirements for food safety
  • Monitors the temperatures of freezers, refrigerators, and milk coolers daily recording temperatures on the appropriate log and notifies food service coordinator if temperatures are above 10˚F (freezer) or 41˚F (refrigerator/cooler)
  • Takes and records the temperature of foods to ensure that foods are cooked to the proper internal temperature, chilled to the appropriate temperature, and placed on the serving line at the appropriate temperature
  • Performs general cleaning tasks and follows cleaning schedule
  • Follows the wash, rinse and sanitize procedures for ware washing
  • Assists the food service coordinator in ensuring the security of all food and supplies.
  • Assists the food service coordinator in receiving all incoming food and supply deliveries
  • Stocks all incoming deliveries and adheres to established food storage procedures
  • Assists the food service coordinator in taking an accurate monthly inventory of all purchased food and supplies
  • Maintains integrity and accountability of the School Nutrition Program through compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations
  • Ensures students receive all required meal components and that all meals served to meet the reimbursable meal requirements
  • Serves students all required meal components, ensuring students are served reimbursable meals
  • Assists food service coordinator in maintaining all records and reports to meet local, state, and USDA requirements, including daily production records, temperature logs, etc.
  • Follows all school policies and procedures
  • Adheres to work schedule and scheduled hours
  • Complies with school mission and vision
  • Operates and maintains commercial kitchen equipment (convection oven, tilt skillet, steamer, multi-compartment sink, etc.) in a safe and sanitary manner
  • Follows policies for the use and care of all equipment
  • Reports any malfunctioning equipment to food service coordinator
  • Communicates effectively with supervisor, school administrators, customers, and fellow employees
  • Performs other duties as assigned by food service coordinator
Desired and Required Experience
  • High school graduate or equivalent
  • Previous volume-feeding experience in an institutional, restaurant or educational environment (school cafeteria experience preferred)
  • Knowledge involving food preparation, general cooking, food storage, cleaning procedures and meal service
  • ServSafe certification required
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Ability to work harmoniously with fellow employees and as part of a team
  • Ability to provide friendly and outstanding customer service to students and others
Physical Capabilities

This is a physically demanding job and one where the incumbent is required to stand for extended periods, lift heavy objects on a regular basis, and do repetitive tasks with few breaks. The incumbent must be willing and able to work in a hot environment and be able to take a physical inventory in freezers and refrigerators where temperatures are as low as 0˚F.

Compensation

Ambition Preparatory Charter School offers competitive salary and benefits commensurate with experience. Ambition Preparatory Charter School is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis, of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, pregnancy, or veteran status.

Disclaimer: This job description describes the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals hired into this job. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required. Ambition Prep reserves the right to change any or all content of this job description based on business needs.