ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Cafeteria Helper Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

UnityPoint Health

Cafeteria Worker

Waterloo, IA · On-site

$12 - $15.25/hr

Our hospital cafeteria is looking for an energetic and dedicated Cafeteria Worker to help fuel our patients, staff, and visitors with great meals and warm service. By joining the hospital team, you ...

UnityPoint Health

Cafeteria Worker

Waterloo, IA

$12 - $15.25/hr

Our hospital cafeteria is looking for an energetic and dedicated Cafeteria Worker to help fuel our patients, staff, and visitors with great meals and warm service. By joining the hospital team, you ...

New

VVS INC

Cafeteria Assistant Manager

Waterloo, IA · On-site

$15.50 - $19.25/hr

Bilingual in English/Spanish helpful but not required. * Creative cooking or catering experience is preferred but not required. * Must have a solid work history with work related references. * Must ...

VVS INC

Cafeteria Assistant Manager

Waterloo, IA

$15.50 - $19.25/hr

Bilingual in English/Spanish helpful but not required. * Creative cooking or catering experience is preferred but not required. * Must have a solid work history with work related references. * Must ...

East Union Community Schools

Food Service Substitute

Afton, IA · On-site

$14.25 - $19/hr

... cafeteria. Substitutes help prepare and serve meals, clean up, and support a safe and welcoming environment for students. This is an on-call position, filling in when regular food service staff are ...

UnityPoint Health

Food Service Worker I

Sioux City, IA · On-site

$15 - $18.25/hr

Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and ... Serve patients, guests, and cafeteria customers with excellent customer service

UnityPoint Health

Food Service Worker I

Cedar Rapids, IA · On-site

$15 - $18.25/hr

Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and ... Serve patients, guests, and cafeteria customers with excellent customer service

UnityPoint Health

Food Service Worker I

Sioux City, IA

$15 - $18.25/hr

Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and ... Serve patients, guests, and cafeteria customers with excellent customer service

UnityPoint Health

Food Service Worker I

Cedar Rapids, IA · On-site

$15 - $18.25/hr

Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and ... Serve patients, guests, and cafeteria customers with excellent customer service

UnityPoint Health

Food Service Worker I

Cedar Rapids, IA · On-site

$15.15/hr

... retail/cafeteria service, cleaning and sanitizing dishes and equipment, stocking supplies, and ... Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsCafeteria Helper JobsCafeteria Helper Jobs in Iowa

Cafeteria Helper information

See Iowa salary details

$4

$13

$17

How much do cafeteria helper jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 26, 2026, the average hourly pay for cafeteria helper in Iowa is $13.90, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.56 and $14.23 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a cafeteria helper?

Cafeteria Helpers are staff members who support the daily operations of a cafeteria, usually in schools, hospitals, or corporate settings. Their duties often include preparing and serving food, cleaning dining areas, restocking supplies, and assisting with dishwashing. They work under the supervision of cafeteria managers and ensure that food safety and hygiene standards are met. Cafeteria Helpers play an important role in creating a clean, organized, and efficient dining environment for all patrons.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a cafeteria helper, and how do they collaborate with other staff members?

As a Cafeteria Helper, your daily responsibilities often include preparing and serving food, maintaining cleanliness in dining and kitchen areas, restocking supplies, and assisting with meal setup and cleanup. You'll frequently collaborate with cooks, kitchen staff, and other helpers to ensure smooth food service and adherence to health and safety standards. Teamwork and effective communication are key, as you'll coordinate tasks during busy meal periods and support one another to provide a positive dining experience for students or customers.

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

To thrive as a Cafeteria Helper, you need basic food preparation skills, knowledge of food safety, and often a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with commercial kitchen equipment, point-of-sale (POS) systems, and, in some cases, a food handler’s certification is valuable. Strong teamwork, communication, and customer service skills help you efficiently serve meals and interact positively with students and staff. These abilities ensure safe, efficient food service operations and a welcoming environment for patrons.

What is the difference between Cafeteria Helper vs Kitchen Assistant?

AspectCafeteria HelperKitchen Assistant
CredentialsNone typically requiredBasic food safety knowledge often preferred
Work EnvironmentSchool or institutional cafeterias, serving studentsCommercial or institutional kitchens, food prep areas
Employer & IndustrySchools, colleges, or cafeteriasRestaurants, catering services, food production
Job FocusAssisting with serving, cleaning, and maintaining cafeteria areasAssisting with food prep, cleaning kitchen equipment

While both roles support food service operations, Cafeteria Helpers primarily assist with serving and maintaining cafeteria areas, often in schools, whereas Kitchen Assistants focus more on food preparation and kitchen cleanliness in various food service settings.

How do you become a school cafeteria helper?

To become a school cafeteria helper, applicants typically need to be at least 16 years old, complete an application, and pass a background check. Some schools may require or prefer previous experience with food service or working with children, and training on food safety and sanitation is often provided on the job.

What are the most commonly searched types of Cafeteria jobs in Iowa?

The most popular types of Cafeteria jobs in Iowa are:

What are popular job titles related to Cafeteria Helper jobs in Iowa?

For Cafeteria Helper jobs in Iowa, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Cafeteria Helper jobs in Iowa look for?

The top searched job categories for Cafeteria Helper jobs in Iowa are:

What cities in Iowa are hiring for Cafeteria Helper jobs?

Cities in Iowa with the most Cafeteria Helper job openings:

Cafeteria Helper jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cafeteria Helper job openings in Iowa as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 54% Part Time, and 46% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $28,908 per year, or $13.9 per hour.

Cafeteria Worker

UnityPoint Health

Waterloo, IA • On-site

$12 - $15.25/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 11 days ago

UnityPoint Health rating

7.3

Company rating: 7.3 out of 10

Based on 362 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

304th of 893 rated healthcare providers

Job description

Overview
Cafeteria Worker
Shift: PRN
The Food Service Worker I provides safe, timely, and accurate preparation, assembly, delivery, and clean-up of meals and food items for patients, residents, and guests. This role supports quality care and customer satisfaction by following department procedures, food safety and sanitation guidelines, and customer service standards. Responsibilities include preparing and delivering patient trays and nourishments, assisting in retail/cafeteria service, cleaning and sanitizing dishes and equipment, stocking supplies, and maintaining a safe and sanitary work environment.
Are you passionate about food, people, and making a difference every day? Our hospital cafeteria is looking for an energetic and dedicated Cafeteria Worker to help fuel our patients, staff, and visitors with great meals and warm service.
By joining the hospital team, you will be part of a caring community that values respect, teamwork, and service. Flexibility is a must as this role assists with all cafeteria positions. You will enjoy great benefits, opportunities for growth, and the chance to brighten someone's day - every day.
Why UnityPoint Health?
At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We're proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.
Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you're in. Here are just a few:
  • Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program.
  • Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members.
  • Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family.

With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together.
And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience.
Find a fulfilling career and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.
Responsibilities
  • Prepare, assemble, and deliver patient trays, snacks, and nourishments per diet specifications
  • Serve patients, guests, and cafeteria customers with excellent customer service
  • Follow portion control, cash handling, and regulatory standards (HIPAA, OSHA, TJC)
  • Maintain a clean, safe, and organized work environment, including cleaning and sanitizing dishes, utensils, equipment, and carts
  • Stock patient units, retail areas, and storage rooms, and monitor food and equipment temperatures

Qualifications
Education:
  • Currently enrolled in high school or equivalent required.
  • Preferred: High School Diploma/GED

Experience:
  • Food Handler Certification • SERVSAFE upon hire
  • IA/IL Child Abuse Mandatory Reporter Training in state(s) where providing care required within 90 days of hire.
  • IA/IL Adult Dependent Abuse Mandatory Reporter Training in state(s) where providing Care required within 90 days of hire.
  • Basic Life Support • American Heart Association *Required for PACE only

License(s)/Certification(s):
  • None

What UnityPoint Health employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

UnityPoint Health logo

About UnityPoint Health

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At UnityPoint Health, we provide care in nine regions throughout Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. As the nation's fourth largest nondenominational health system in America, UnityPoint Health keeps people at the center of all we do. We are looking for dynamic and talented individuals to join our team. You'll find opportunities for every sized dream.

Industry

Hospitals

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

West Des Moines, IA, US

Year founded

1995

View All UnityPoint Health Jobs

Apply