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Cooking Class Instructor Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

CIA

Food Enthusiast Instructor - On Call

Napa, CA · On-site

$40/hr

Work in collaboration with the FE Manager to maintain food cost budget for each class; review EATEC ... Extensive knowledge of professional cooking, food preparation, kitchen food production management ...

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Cooking Class Instructor information

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$31

How much do cooking class instructor jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 28, 2026, the average hourly pay for cooking class instructor in California is $20.44, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.67 and $20.87 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Cooking Class Instructors, and how can they be addressed?

Cooking Class Instructors often navigate challenges such as managing students with varying skill levels, ensuring food safety in a classroom setting, and maintaining an engaging learning environment. Adapting lesson plans to suit different abilities and pacing, as well as fostering an inclusive, supportive atmosphere, can help overcome these obstacles. Instructors should stay up to date with food safety best practices and continually seek feedback to refine their teaching methods. Building strong communication skills and being prepared for unexpected changes—like ingredient shortages or equipment issues—also contributes to a successful and enjoyable class experience.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Cooking Class Instructor position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Cooking Class Instructor, you need advanced culinary skills, teaching experience, and often a culinary degree or relevant certification. Familiarity with kitchen equipment, food safety regulations, and lesson planning software is beneficial. Excellent communication, patience, and adaptability are essential soft skills for engaging and instructing diverse groups of learners. These abilities ensure students have a positive, safe, and educational experience while meeting class objectives.

What is a Cooking Class Instructor job?

A Cooking Class Instructor is a professional who teaches individuals or groups how to prepare and cook various dishes. They design lesson plans, demonstrate cooking techniques, and provide guidance on ingredients, utensils, and kitchen safety. Instructors may specialize in specific cuisines or dietary styles and often work in cooking schools, community centers, or private settings. Their goal is to educate and inspire students to develop culinary skills and confidence in the kitchen.

What are popular job titles related to Cooking Class Instructor jobs in California? For Cooking Class Instructor jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Cooking Class Instructor jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Cooking Class Instructor jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Cooking Class Instructor jobs? Cities in California with the most Cooking Class Instructor job openings:
Cooking Class Instructor jobs near you
Chef Instructor (Sur La Table)

Chef Instructor (Sur La Table)

CSC Generation

Glendale, CA

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

With over 58 stores and the largest avocational cooking program in the US, Sur La Table offers an unsurpassed selection of exclusive and premium-quality goods for the kitchen and table – and the culinary expertise and inspiration to go along with it. Whether the job entails interacting with our customers, driving digital growth, or providing vital behind-the-scenes support, we’re all here for the same reason – to roll up our sleeves and create happiness through cooking and sharing good food. 

Position Overview
As a Chef Instructor at Sur La Table, you are the in-store expert and advocate for all things education.  You deliver #bestincenter service by sharing product knowledge, brewing techniques, knife skills, and personalized instruction that supports all company initiatives. The Chef Instructor plays a key role in driving sales of espresso machines, coffee makers, coffee grinders, knife skills, and cooks tools through active demonstrations, coffee classes and knife skills classes.
 
Key Responsibilities
Customer Experience & Brand Representation
·         Represent Sur La Table’s brand and culture by creating memorable, educational experiences that inspire repeat visits and customer loyalty. 
·         Lead engaging and informative culinary and coffee-focused demonstrations that showcase our expertise and elevate the in-store experience. 
·         Deliver high-quality, hands-on classes that teach fundamental and advanced cooking techniques, including essential knife skills. 
·         Educate customers on a variety of brewing methods, including pour-over, French Press, AeroPress, espresso, and cold brew. 
·         Guide customers in selecting coffee beans based on flavor profiles, roast levels, and origin
Sales & Business Performance
·         Promote and sell cooking tools, coffee products, equipment, and accessories as part of class experiences and demos. 
·         Support the store in achieving revenue goals by driving customer engagement and conversion through education. 
·         Consistently meet or exceed monthly sales goals, contributing to overall store revenue.  Performance is measured by key KPIs such as individual sales volume, average transaction value, and customer conversion rates.
Team Engagement & Store Support           
·         Partner with store leaders to ensure alignment between culinary programming and store priorities. 
·         Collaborate on merchandising strategies that highlight key tools and products featured in classes. 
Operations & Compliance
·         Ensure compliance with food safety standards, local health codes, and sanitation regulations.
·         Properly handle all tools, ingredients, and kitchen equipment to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.
·         Maintain accurate inventory levels, minimize shrink, and control supply and culinary expenses.
·         Ensure store safety and cleanliness, addressing any maintenance needs promptly.
·         Adhere to applicable wage and hour laws.  Accurately records time worked according to SLT Policy.
·         Model and ensure consistent adherence to all Sur La Table policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
 
Physical Requirements
·         Ability to communicate verbally and work cooperatively with associates and customers
·         Ability to remain standing for up to 4 hours at a time
·         Ability to move about the store directing class participants while selling to customers and retrieving merchandise from stockroom or sales floor
·         The capability to accurately perceive and differentiate variations in intensity or quality of flavors or odors, or to identify specific tastes or scents using the tongue or nose.
·         Ability to grab, reach, push, pull, bend, stoop, kneel, and crouch to retrieve and replenish merchandise from stockroom or sales floor.
·         Ability to use hands to seize, hold, grasp, turn, or otherwise to chop, whisk, slice, stir, juice and/or demonstrate other techniques.
·         Ability to lift and/or move merchandise weighing up to 50 lbs.
·         Ability to ascend/descend ladders to retrieve and/or move merchandise
·         Ability to operate a computer, POS system, keyboards, merchandise scanners and mouse to accomplish work
·         Available to work between 12 and 16 hours per week, with a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays
·         Regular and predictable attendance with the flexibility to adjust class assignments based on demand, ensuring 3-4 classes are taught per week.
·         Ability to work in a variable environment with exposure to hot equipment, steam, varying temperatures, and potential airborne and physical coffee-related allergens.
 
Qualifications & Experience
·         Must be 21 years of age or older at the time of employment.
·         A degree in culinary arts is preferred; however, candidates with extensive culinary experience and demonstrated technical proficiency will be considered in lieu of formal education.
·         1-2 years of kitchen operations experience.
·         Valid Food Manager Certification.
·         Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
·         Passion for community engagement and providing exceptional customer experiences.
·         Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and retail systems preferred.
This job description represents a summary of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties. Responsibilities, tasks, and duties of the jobholder might differ from those outlined in the job description and other duties, as assigned, may be part of the job. This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Sur La Table has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.

The CSC family of brands provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, provincial, state or local laws.  
 
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
 
Washington state applicants only: If you believe that this job posting does not comply with applicable Washington state law, please notify us by sending an email to WACandidates@cscshared.com. 
 
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie-detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. 
  
The CSC family of brands is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact hrbenefits@cscshared.com.  

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

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About CSC Generation

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

CSC Generation is a multi-brand technology platform based in Merrillville, IN, United States. The organization operates in the retail sector and utilizes technology to save retail companies from going into bankruptcy, while also offering consumers the ability to lease their purchases. Founded by serial entrepreneur, Justin Yoshimura, CSC Generation has leveraged its proprietary technology and customer database to quickly revitalize distressed retail brands. The company's mission revolves around the concepts of reinvention and innovation as it aims to redefine traditional retail and direct-to-consumer models in today's digital age. Notably, the company has, to date, acquired several brands such as DirectBuy, Killion, and most notably, Z Gallerie, growing fast within the e-commerce sector.

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Merrillville, IN, US

Year founded

2016

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