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Daycare Cook Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Cadence Academy Preschool

Cook

Norwalk, CT · On-site

$18.75 - $22.75/hr

If you love working with children and bring experience from childcare, daycare, or early childhood ... Ready to cook up some joy? Apply today and become part of a team that's transforming lives, one ...

Cadence Education

Cook

Norwalk, CT

$18.75 - $22.75/hr

If you love working with children and bring experience from childcare, daycare, or early childhood ... Ready to cook up some joy? Apply today and become part of a team that's transforming lives, one ...

549-Fivemile River

Cook

Norwalk, CT

$18.75 - $22.75/hr

If you love working with children and bring experience from childcare, daycare, or early childhood ... Ready to cook up some joy? Apply today and become part of a team that's transforming lives, one ...

Cadence Academy Preschool

Cook

Norwalk, CT

$14 - $18.75/hr

If you love working with children and bring experience from childcare, daycare, or early childhood ... Ready to cook up some joy? Apply today and become part of a team that's transforming lives, one ...

Jovie

Part-Time After-School Caregiver

Columbus, OH

Responsibilities include picking up the kids from daycare, cooking dinner, and overseeing their evening routine with love and enthusiasm. Nanny can use the family car if needed, as dad works from ...

Jovie

Part-Time After-School Caregiver

Arlington, VA · On-site

Responsibilities include picking up the kids from daycare, cooking dinner, and overseeing their evening routine with love and enthusiasm. Nanny can use the family car if needed, as dad works from ...

Generations Ashe

Cook

West Jefferson, NC · On-site

$11.15 - $14.50/hr

COOK General Statement of Duties: Prepares and serves food to senior citizens, packages food for ... Daycare and Adult Daycare. Serves congregate meals. Cleans and sanitizes all utensils, food ...

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$19

$25

How much do daycare cook jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for daycare cook in the United States is $19.22, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.59 and $21.15 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Daycare Cooks?

Daycare Cooks are responsible for preparing and serving nutritious meals and snacks for children at a daycare facility. They plan menus that meet dietary guidelines and accommodate food allergies or special needs. Daycare Cooks also ensure that the kitchen area is clean and compliant with health and safety regulations, and they often work closely with daycare staff to support children's well-being. Their role is vital in providing healthy food choices to promote children's growth and development while at daycare.

What are some common challenges faced by a Daycare Cook and how can they be managed?

Daycare Cooks often face the challenge of preparing nutritious meals that meet strict dietary guidelines and accommodate various allergies and preferences among children. Managing time efficiently to serve meals on schedule while maintaining food safety and cleanliness standards is essential. Effective communication with daycare staff is crucial to stay informed about children's needs and any last-minute changes. Staying organized and planning menus in advance can help streamline meal preparation and reduce stress during busy times.

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

To thrive as a Daycare Cook, you need knowledge of nutrition, safe food handling, and meal preparation, often backed by a food handler's permit or certification. Familiarity with commercial kitchen equipment and compliance with health department regulations are typically required. Attention to detail, organization, and effective communication with staff and children are valuable soft skills in this role. These abilities ensure the preparation of healthy, safe meals that support children's well-being and meet regulatory standards.

What Does a Daycare Cook Do?

Daycare cooks plan, prepare, and clean up meals at a daycare facility. As a daycare cook, you prepare breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for children. You must have knowledge of healthy, complete meals and use budgeting skills to make food purchases for a given period of time. Your responsibilities include ensuring enough food is available each day and that each meal is USDA food guide compliant. Other duties involve maintaining a clean kitchen workspace, storing food according to local health unit guidelines, and serving food hygienically. You also interact with children and model appropriate food handling and eating etiquette.

What is the difference between Daycare Cook vs School Lunch Cook?

AspectDaycare CookSchool Lunch Cook
CredentialsFood handler’s permit, basic cooking skillsFood handler’s permit, food safety certification
Work EnvironmentChildcare centers, daycare facilitiesSchools, educational institutions
Employer & IndustryChildcare providers, daycare industrySchool districts, education sector
Job FocusPreparing nutritious meals for young childrenPreparing meals for students, adhering to school menus

While both roles involve preparing meals for children, a Daycare Cook focuses on creating nutritious, age-appropriate food in daycare settings, whereas a School Lunch Cook prepares meals for larger groups of students in school cafeterias, often following strict nutritional guidelines and menus.

More about Daycare Cook jobs
What cities are hiring for Daycare Cook jobs? Cities with the most Daycare Cook job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Daycare Cook jobs? The most popular types of Daycare Cook jobs are:
What states have the most Daycare Cook jobs? States with the most job openings for Daycare Cook jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Daycare Cook jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Daycare Cook jobs are:
Daycare Cook jobs near you
Infographic showing various Daycare Cook job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 31% Full Time, and 69% Part Time. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution, with an average salary of $39,979 per year, or $19.2 per hour.

Cook

Shaker Place Rehabilitation & Nursing Center

Albany, NY • On-site

$23.16/hr

Part-time

Posted 25 days ago

Job description

The primary responsibility of the cook includes the preparation and cooking of a variety of food. The cooks’ responsibilities are typically for one part of a meal, such as the meat course, or vegetables or pastries and desserts. The cook may supervise the preparation of an entire meal and in some cases may have charge of the entire kitchen operation. Supervision is exercised over assistant cooks and/or food service helpers. Performs other tasks as required.

Responsibilities/Typical Work Activities:

  • Prepares and cooks meat, fish, poultry, soups, vegetables, cereals, desserts, salads and other food;

  • Bakes cakes, pies, rolls and a variety of other pastries;

  • Cuts, cleans and dresses meat, fish and poultry;

  • Supervises the proper storing of food;

  • Supervises the work of assistants in the preparation of food, and the cleaning of tables, kitchen utensils, stoves and kitchen;

  • Keeps simple related records.

Full Performance, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Personal Characteristics:

  • Good knowledge of the methods of preparing, cooking and baking food in large quantities;

  • Good knowledge of modern cooking utensils, appliances and equipment;

  • Good knowledge of cleaning methods and the use of cleaning materials and equipment;

  • Ability to plan with a view to economy and efficiency in the use of supplies, equipment and food;

  • Ability to follow oral and written directions and recipes.


Minimum Qualifications:

  • One (1) year of experience in large scale cooking.

Employee Benefits:

  • Little Sprouts, on-site daycare

    • Low to no-cost daycare for all full-time staff

  • Free CDTA bus pass with direct stop at Shaker Place

  • Experience-based pay and shift differentials

  • New York State retirement plan and optional deferred compensation

  • Tuition reimbursement

  • Health insurance: low-cost health plan (Anthem, formerly Empire), dental, vision, prescriptions

  • Generous paid time off, including vacation, personal and holidays

  • 529 college savings plan

  • Weekly payroll

  • Flexible spending account

About Shaker Place Rehabilitation & Nursing:

Beautiful, recently renovated, state-of-the-art facilities with new amenities, advanced equipment, and thoughtful design. We cultivate a supportive, inclusive, respectful, diverse, and welcoming culture committed to providing the highest quality of care to our residents. Our mission is to provide comprehensive care and exceptional services to the people of Albany County and surrounding areas. For nearly 50 years, we have been committed to enhancing each resident's quality of life and valuing their independence, dignity, and happiness.

Shaker Place Rehabilitation & Nursing Center is an E-Verify participant and equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, disability status or any other status protected by laws and regulations.