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High School Cook Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Goddard School

School Cook / Chef

Magnolia, TX · On-site

$12 - $16/hr

High school diploma or GED preferred. * Previous cooking, food-service, childcare, school, or commercial kitchen experience preferred. * Must meet all state childcare licensing and food-handling ...

Vertex Education

School Cook - FG

Laveen, AZ · On-site

$14 - $18/hr

Assists in preparing and cooking foods, which may include: panning frozen food, cupping fruit ... High School Diploma or G.E.D. * Food Handlers card. Work Experience or Related Experience * Six ...

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How much do high school cook jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for high school cook in the United States is $16.03, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.46 and $18.03 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a high school cook?

High school cooks are food service professionals responsible for preparing, cooking, and serving meals to students and staff in a high school setting. They ensure that meals meet nutritional guidelines, maintain food safety standards, and often accommodate special dietary needs. High school cooks may also help with menu planning, kitchen cleaning, and inventory management. Their work is essential in providing healthy, balanced meals to support students' learning and well-being.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a high school cook?

To thrive as a High School Cook, you need knowledge of food preparation, safe food handling, and basic nutrition, often supported by a high school diploma and food safety certification. Familiarity with commercial kitchen equipment, inventory systems, and menu planning software is typically required. Strong teamwork, time management, and communication skills help ensure efficient meal service and a positive environment. These abilities are vital for maintaining food quality, safety standards, and smooth operations in a busy school cafeteria.

What are some common challenges high school cooks face when preparing meals for large groups of students?

High school cooks often manage tight schedules while preparing nutritious meals for hundreds of students, which can be challenging due to time constraints and varying student preferences. They must also adhere to strict food safety and dietary guidelines, ensuring all meals accommodate allergies and special dietary needs. Collaborating closely with other kitchen staff and school administrators is crucial for smooth meal service and menu planning. Additionally, cooks may need to adjust recipes or meal quantities quickly when participation numbers fluctuate.

What is the difference between High School Cook vs School Cafeteria Worker?

AspectHigh School CookSchool Cafeteria Worker
CredentialsFood Handler's Permit, culinary skillsFood Handler's Permit, basic food service knowledge
Work EnvironmentHigh school kitchen, preparing meals for studentsSchool cafeteria, assisting with meal service and cleanup
Job DutiesCooking, menu planning, food preparationServing food, cleaning, maintaining cafeteria area

High School Cooks focus on preparing and cooking meals, often with culinary training, while School Cafeteria Workers assist with meal service and maintaining the cafeteria environment. Both roles require food safety knowledge and are essential to school food service operations, but they differ mainly in responsibilities and skill levels.

What cities are hiring for High School Cook jobs?

Cities with the most High School Cook job openings:

What states have the most High School Cook jobs?

States with the most job openings for High School Cook jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to High School Cook jobs?

For High School Cook jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

School Cook / Chef

Magnolia, TX • On-site

The Goddard School
Education • 51 - 200 employees
Learn more about The Goddard Schoolexternal

$12 - $16/hr

Full-time

PTO

Posted 18 days ago

The Goddard School rating

6.0

Company rating: 6.0 out of 10

Based on 357 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Responsive recruiter
Replies within 24 hours
Benefits:
  • Bonus based on performance
  • Company parties
  • Competitive salary
  • Employee discounts
  • Flexible schedule
  • Opportunity for advancement
  • Paid time off
  • Training & development

No experience necessary. Will train on-site. Must love working wth children and teachers.
Preschool Cook / Chef - Job Description
Position Summary
The Preschool Cook/Chef is responsible for preparing and serving safe, nutritious, and appealing meals and snacks for children and staff while maintaining a clean, sanitary, organized, and properly stocked kitchen.
Because the kitchen serves young children, food safety, allergy awareness, sanitation, portion control, and following the school menu are essential responsibilities of this position
The Cook/Chef is also a member of the entire school team and is expected to assist with reasonable school-related responsibilities when kitchen duties are completed.
Qualifications
  • High school diploma or GED preferred.
  • Previous cooking, food-service, childcare, school, or commercial kitchen experience preferred.
  • Must meet all state childcare licensing and food-handling requirements.
  • Food Handler certification required or must be obtained within the required timeframe.
  • Must successfully complete required background checks and school training.
  • Must understand basic food safety, sanitation, cross-contamination prevention, and proper food storage.
  • Must be able to follow menus, recipes, portion requirements, and allergy restrictions.
  • Must be dependable, punctual, organized, flexible, and professional.

Food Preparation & Meal Service
The Cook/Chef is responsible for:
  • Preparing breakfast, lunch, and snacks according to the school's approved menu and schedule.
  • Following established recipes, serving sizes, and portion requirements.
  • Preparing food appropriate for the ages of the children being served.
  • Ensuring meals and snacks are prepared and delivered to classrooms on time.
  • Preparing classroom food containers, serving utensils, milk/water, and other meal supplies as required.
  • Properly portioning food to minimize unnecessary waste.
  • Following approved menu substitutions when an item is unavailable.
  • Not making significant menu changes without administrative approval.
  • Ensuring food is properly cooked, cooled, reheated, and held at safe temperatures.
  • Maintaining required food-temperature records and other kitchen documentation.
  • Returning unused food to proper storage when appropriate and safely disposing of food that cannot be reused.

Food Allergies & Dietary Restrictions
Food allergies must be taken extremely seriously
The Cook/Chef must:
  • Know and follow the school's allergy and dietary restriction procedures.
  • Review current allergy information and understand which children require substitutions or special meal preparation.
  • Prevent cross-contact between allergens and other foods.
  • Use separate utensils, preparation surfaces, containers, or other precautions when required.
  • Clearly identify special meals before they are delivered to classrooms.
  • Never make assumptions regarding whether a child can have a particular food.
  • Immediately ask administration when there is uncertainty regarding an allergy, dietary restriction, or food substitution.
  • Immediately report any food-allergy error or possible exposure to administration.

Kitchen Cleanliness & Sanitation
The Cook/Chef is responsible for maintaining a clean and sanitary kitchen throughout the entire day, including:
  • Washing and sanitizing dishes, utensils, pots, pans, trays, and food-preparation equipment.
  • Cleaning and sanitizing countertops and food-preparation surfaces.
  • Sweeping and mopping kitchen floors as needed.
  • Cleaning sinks, refrigerators, freezers, cabinets, shelves, appliances, and food-storage areas.
  • Properly removing kitchen trash.
  • Following proper handwashing procedures.
  • Wearing gloves when required and changing gloves whenever they become contaminated or when changing tasks.
  • Preventing cross-contamination between raw and ready-to-eat foods.
  • Properly labeling and dating opened and prepared foods.
  • Following appropriate food-storage and expiration procedures.
  • Maintaining refrigerators and freezers at required temperatures.
  • Keeping chemicals and cleaning products properly labeled and stored away from food.

The kitchen should be kept inspection-ready at all times, not only when an inspection is expected.
Inventory & Food Deliveries
The Cook/Chef is responsible for helping maintain appropriate kitchen inventory and supplies.
Responsibilities include:
  • Checking food deliveries for accuracy and quality.
  • Opening delivered food boxes and promptly putting refrigerated, frozen, and dry goods in their proper locations.
  • Rotating inventory using a first-in, first-out (FIFO) system.
  • Monitoring expiration and use-by dates.
  • Informing administration before essential food or kitchen supplies run out.
  • Keeping refrigerators, freezers, pantry areas, and storage shelves clean and organized.
  • Minimizing unnecessary food waste.
  • Informing administration of damaged products, shortages, delivery errors, or quality concerns.

Classroom Meal Delivery
When delivering meals and snacks:
  • Deliver food according to the school's established schedule.
  • Be mindful that classrooms may be conducting lessons, activities, or nap routines.
  • Enter classrooms quietly and professionally.
  • Avoid unnecessarily interrupting teachers or disrupting children.
  • Ensure special dietary meals are delivered to the correct classroom and clearly identified.
  • Communicate important meal or allergy information directly to the appropriate staff member when necessary.

School-Wide Team Responsibilities
The Cook/Chef is an important member of the school staff, not solely the kitchen staff.
When kitchen responsibilities are completed, the employee may be expected to assist with reasonable school needs, including:
  • Providing staff bathroom breaks when qualified and directed by administration.
  • Helping with school parties, celebrations, and special events.
  • Assisting with setup and cleanup for school activities.
  • Helping maintain common areas.
  • Assisting with other reasonable school-related duties as assigned by administration.
  • Attending required staff meetings, professional development, training, and school events.

When kitchen responsibilities are completed, the Cook/Chef should check with the front office or administration to determine where additional assistance may be needed.
Professional Conduct
The Cook/Chef is expected to:
  • Maintain professional and respectful communication with coworkers, administrators, children, and families.
  • Follow directions from school administration.
  • Work cooperatively with teachers and other school employees.
  • Handle disagreements and frustrations professionally.
  • Maintain appropriate behavior and language while on school property.
  • Accept constructive feedback professionally.
  • Avoid unnecessary conflict with coworkers.
  • Maintain confidentiality regarding children, families, and employees.

Angry, aggressive, threatening, disrespectful, or otherwise unprofessional behavior toward staff members, children, families, vendors, or administrators is unacceptable and may result in corrective action according to school policy.
Personal Phone & Entertainment Use
Personal phone use should be limited according to school policy and should never interfere with food preparation, sanitation, safety, or other job responsibilities.
Watching television programs, movies, videos, or other personal entertainment while working in the kitchen is not permitted.
If kitchen duties are completed, the employee should check with administration for additional responsibilities rather than using work time for personal entertainment.
Safety
The Cook/Chef must:
  • Follow all food safety and sanitation requirements.
  • Immediately clean spills and address slip or fall hazards.
  • Safely operate kitchen equipment.
  • Keep knives and other potentially dangerous kitchen equipment secured and inaccessible to children.
  • Keep cleaning chemicals and other hazardous materials properly stored.
  • Immediately report broken equipment, unsafe conditions, pest concerns, or other kitchen safety issues to administration.
  • Follow all school emergency procedures.

Physical Requirements
The employee must be able to:
  • Stand and walk for extended periods.
  • Bend, reach, lift, carry, and move food and kitchen supplies.
  • Safely lift and carry reasonable quantities of food, milk, kitchen supplies, pots, pans, and equipment.
  • Work around ovens, stovetops, refrigerators, freezers, and other commercial kitchen equipment.
  • Perform repetitive food-preparation and cleaning tasks.

Attendance & Dependability
Because meals and snacks must be prepared and served at specific times each day, dependable attendance and punctuality are essential functions of this position.
The Cook/Chef is expected to arrive on time and be prepared to begin kitchen responsibilities according to the assigned schedule.
Overall Expectation
The Preschool Cook/Chef plays an important role in the health, safety, and daily experience of every child in the school.
The expectation is to maintain a safe, clean, organized, efficient, and welcoming kitchen, provide children with nutritious meals and snacks, carefully protect children with food allergies and dietary restrictions, and contribute positively to the overall operation and culture of the school.
This Is Your Moment
The joy of childhood comes from those bright sparks of discovery -- moments that delight and surprise us. Your career at The Goddard School can be just as exciting. For more than 35 years, Goddard Schools have put each teacher at the heart of everything we do because teachers put each student at the heart of everything they do. The Goddard School trusts, empowers, and honors its exceptional educators. Develop your teaching skills in a vibrant and nurturing environment and make a difference in children's lives every day.
Each Goddard School location is privately owned and operated by Goddard Franchisor LLC franchisees. The Goddard School franchise owner(s) are the employers at each school, and the franchise owner(s) set their own wage and benefit programs, which vary by location.

What The Goddard School employees say

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Hours and flexibility

Workplace

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About Goddard School

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

As part of a larger franchise system, in operation for over 30 years, we are the premier preschool for children from six weeks to six years old. We have over 560 franchised Schools with more than 70,000 students in 38 states. The Goddard School uses the most current academically endorsed methods to ensure children have fun while learning the skills they need for long-term success in school and in life.

Industry

Education, education programs administration, personal services and elementary and secondary schools

Company size

51 - 200 Employees

Headquarters location

King of Prussia, PA, US

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