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Cafeteria Lead Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Rowland Unified

CAFETERIA LEAD WORKER I

Rowland Heights, CA · On-site

$19.25 - $23.46/hr

CAFETERIA LEAD WORKER I at Rowland Unified Share on X Print Application Deadline 7/7/2027 4:30 PM Pacific Date Posted 7/6/2026 Contact Amanda Arias Number of Openings 1 Salary Pay Range $19.25 - $23 ...

Bristol Public Schools

Lead Cook - Cafeteria

Bristol, CT · On-site

$17.25 - $22/hr

Cafeteria/Lead Cook Date Posted: 1/14/2026 Location: Chippens Hill Middle School Date Available: 03/03/2026 Closing Date: Open until filled POSITION TITLE: LEAD COOK - CHIPPENS HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL ...

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How much do cafeteria lead jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for cafeteria lead in the United States is $16.96, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.38 and $18.99 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a cafeteria lead?

Cafeteria Leads are responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a cafeteria, including supervising staff, ensuring food safety and quality, managing inventory, and maintaining cleanliness standards. They coordinate meal preparation and service, handle scheduling, and address customer concerns. Cafeteria Leads play a key role in ensuring that meals are served efficiently and that all health and safety regulations are followed. This position often requires strong leadership, organizational skills, and experience in food service.

What are some common challenges faced by a cafeteria lead and how can they be managed?

A Cafeteria Lead often encounters challenges such as coordinating a diverse team, ensuring food safety compliance, and managing peak meal times efficiently. Effective communication and delegation are key to maintaining smooth operations, especially during busy periods. Staying updated with health regulations and fostering a supportive team environment can help address these challenges and ensure consistent service quality.

What is the difference between Cafeteria Lead vs Cafeteria Supervisor?

AspectCafeteria LeadCafeteria Supervisor
ResponsibilitiesOversees daily cafeteria operations, manages staff, ensures food safety, and maintains service quality.Supervises cafeteria staff, enforces policies, handles scheduling, and ensures compliance with regulations.
CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; experience in food service preferred.High school diploma or equivalent; food service experience often required.
Work EnvironmentSchool or institutional cafeterias, fast-paced food service settings.School cafeterias, institutional food service environments.

The main difference is that a Cafeteria Lead typically focuses on daily operations and team management at a more hands-on level, while a Cafeteria Supervisor often has broader oversight responsibilities, including enforcing policies and staff scheduling. Both roles require similar credentials and work in comparable environments, but the Supervisor role may involve more administrative duties.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a cafeteria lead?

To thrive as a Cafeteria Lead, you need experience in food service operations, knowledge of food safety regulations, and often a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with point-of-sale (POS) systems, inventory management software, and certifications like ServSafe are typically required. Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills help in managing staff and ensuring efficient service. These abilities are crucial for maintaining a safe, compliant, and smoothly operating cafeteria that delivers quality customer service.
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Cafeteria Lead jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cafeteria Lead job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, and 8% Part Time. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution, with an average salary of $35,270 per year, or $17 per hour.

(Full-time) Lead Cafeteria Assistant

John Adams Academy

Roseville, CA • On-site

$22/hr

Full-time

Posted 12 days ago

John Adams Academy rating

6.1

Company rating: 6.1 out of 10

Based on 8 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

434th of 621 rated elementary and secondary schools

Job description

Job Summary
Position Title: Nutrition Services Cafeteria Lead
Location: Campus
Reports to: Cafeteria Manager
Calendar: 11 Months
POSITION OVERVIEW
Under the guidance of the nutrition services campus cafeteria manager, the cafeteria lead
supports the functioning of the campus food service program in compliance with the education
code and the national school lunch program requirements and performs all related duties as
assigned at their campus.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Supports campus cafeteria manager with all activities of the cafeteria and serving areas
at their campus on:
• Food preparation amounts for the purpose of meeting projected meal
requirements and minimizing waste of food items
• Supervises and processes inventories
• Food orders, equipment and supplies for the purpose of maintaining
adequate inventory to maintain operations within established budget
guidelines.
• Prepares and maintains a variety of documentation (production records,
temp logs, delivery logs, etc.)
• monitors campus food safety program to ensure staff is trained
2. Participates in meetings, in-service trainings, workshops, etc. for the purpose
of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform job functions.
3. Maintains equipment, storage, food preparation and serving areas in a sanitary
condition for the purpose of complying with current health standards
4. Adheres to all conditions and protocols of working under the National School Lunch
Program
5. Supports guidelines and requirements of the National School Lunch Program to ensure
compliance
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
• Knowledge of proper sanitary methods of preparing, cooking, serving and storing of
food in large quantities, and problems involved in managing a cafeteria
• Knowledge of record keeping, estimating, and ordering procedures.
• Knowledge of the principles of supervision and training
• Knowledge of the requirements of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast
Program
Requirements / Qualifications

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