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How much do school nutrition service jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for school nutrition service in the United States is $18.96, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.87 and $20.43 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a school nutrition worker do?

A school nutrition worker prepares, serves, and maintains food in school cafeterias, ensuring meals meet safety and nutritional standards. They may also handle cash registers, clean food service areas, and follow health regulations, often working during school hours and requiring food safety certifications. Their role supports student health and well-being by providing nutritious meals daily.

What is the difference between School Nutrition Service vs School Food Service Worker?

AspectSchool Nutrition ServiceSchool Food Service Worker
CredentialsFood handler permits, sometimes certifications in food safetyFood handler permits, basic food safety training
Work EnvironmentSchool cafeterias, kitchens, food prep areasSchool cafeterias, food serving stations
Employer & IndustrySchool districts, educational institutionsSchool districts, educational institutions
Job FocusMeal planning, food preparation, nutrition complianceServing meals, assisting with food distribution

School Nutrition Service professionals typically handle meal planning and ensure nutritional standards, while School Food Service Workers focus on serving meals and assisting in food distribution. Both roles work within school cafeterias and require food safety certifications, but their responsibilities differ in scope and focus.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in School Nutrition Service, and why are they important?

To excel in School Nutrition Service, you need knowledge of food safety, nutrition guidelines, and meal preparation, often supported by a high school diploma and food handler certification. Familiarity with kitchen equipment, inventory management systems, and compliance with USDA school meal regulations is typically required. Strong teamwork, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help ensure smooth operations and positive interactions with students and staff. These skills are critical for delivering healthy, safe, and appealing meals that support student well-being and meet regulatory standards.

What are some common challenges faced by School Nutrition Service staff, and how can they be addressed?

School Nutrition Service staff often encounter challenges such as managing meal preparation for large groups on tight schedules, adhering to strict nutritional and safety guidelines, and accommodating students with diverse dietary needs. Effective communication, teamwork, and time management are essential to meet these demands. Many schools provide ongoing training and encourage collaboration among staff to ensure smooth operations and a positive dining experience for students.

What is the highest paying nutrition job?

In the field of school nutrition services, senior roles such as Nutrition Program Directors or Food Service Managers typically have the highest salaries. These positions often require advanced certifications, management experience, and oversee large school districts or multiple sites, resulting in higher compensation compared to entry-level roles like cafeteria workers or cooks.

What are School Nutrition Services?

School Nutrition Services are programs within schools that provide healthy and balanced meals to students during the school day. These services ensure that children receive the nutrition they need to support their learning, growth, and overall well-being. School Nutrition Services often include breakfast, lunch, and sometimes snacks, and they follow federal and state guidelines to meet specific nutritional standards. The programs may also offer free or reduced-price meals for students from low-income families to help ensure all children have access to nutritious food.

How much does a school nutrition assistant make?

In North Carolina, a school nutrition assistant typically earns around $11 to $14 per hour, depending on experience and school district. The role often requires food service skills and may involve working early mornings and afternoons in a school cafeteria setting.

What is the highest paying job in food and nutrition?

In food and nutrition, the highest paying roles are often executive positions such as Director of Nutrition or Food Service Director, which require extensive experience and management skills. These roles typically oversee large food service operations, including school nutrition programs, and may require advanced certifications or degrees in nutrition or dietetics.
More about School Nutrition Service jobs
What job categories do people searching School Nutrition Service jobs look for? The top searched job categories for School Nutrition Service jobs are:
School Nutrition Service jobs near you
Infographic showing various School Nutrition Service job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 77% Full Time, 20% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $39,441 per year, or $19 per hour.

School Nutrition Services Cook

Appoquinimink School District

Odessa, DE

$16 - $20.25/hr

Other

Posted 19 days ago

Job description

School Nutrition Services Cook
REPORTS TO:  Directly responsible to School Nutrition Services Manager and/ or Assistant Manager and District School Nutrition Services Supervisor and/or School Nutrition Services Operations Specialist, if assigned.

SUPERVISES: May supervise kitchen personnel in the absence of the School Nutrition Services Manager or Assistant Manager, if requested to do so by the School Nutrition Supervisor or School Nutrition Operations Specialist.
PRIMARY FUNCTIONS: Under supervision of School Nutrition Services Manager and/ or Assistant Manager, helps to prepare attractive, nutritious meals for students, staff and faculty
SALARY RANGE
The salary range for this role can be found in the provided link:  Salary Scales
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 
The following information is intended to describe the overall nature and scope of the work being performed in relation to the position.  This is not a comprehensive listing of all the responsibilities or tasks; other work may be assigned when deemed appropriate: 







  • Shall be able to perform the regular duties of a general worker.
  • Shall perform skilled work in the preparation of food according to pre-planned menu, using selected and tested recipes.
  • Shall schedule food preparation time so that food is ready promptly at serving time. Food to be taste tested for quality before serving. Food should be batch cooked to meet quality standards.
  • Shall prepare food in appropriate quantity, assuring adequate portions for all and avoiding leftover foods to the greatest extent possible. Responsible for reading recipes and converting measurements.
  • Shall implement proper handling and storage of food in accordance with sanitary regulations and HACCP guidelines.
  • Shall be familiar with and if assigned, responsible for food temperature monitoring and appropriate corrective action(s) needed through use of the Smart Temps system.
  • Shall be responsible for proper use, operation and cleanliness of steam cookers, gas and electric ranges, Rational ovens, convection and hydrovex-ovens, slicers, mixers, blast chillers and all other kitchen equipment required.
  • Shall keep work and storage areas and equipment clean and avoid backlog of unwashed equipment.
  • As needed, shall assist School Nutrition Services Manager or Assistant Manager to maintain perpetual food inventory and take physical inventory.
  • Shall be participatory in the I3 Inventory System, providing appropriate information to the manager/assistant manager regarding this.
  • Shall maintain accurate daily production records, utilizing the appropriate forms and Health-e Pro system.
  • Shall assume additional responsibilities, including counting of money and closing of cash registers at the days end, as assigned by the School Nutrition Services Manager or Assistant Manager, as needed.  Responsible for appropriately securing any money received.
  • Shall observe whatever needs to be done to expedite the preparation, serving, and cleanup, and complete such tasks.
  • Demonstrates understanding of the USDA Professional Standards requirements for this position and acquires the appropriate annual professional training to meet this standard.
  • Shall display to students, faculty, staff and co-workers an attitude of accommodation and cooperation.
  • Shall perform other related duties as needed or as assigned by the School Nutrition Services Manager or Assistant Manager.

  MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
 Below are the qualifications for this position: 

  • Completion of four units of State School Food Service training under the sponsorship of the Department of Education.
  • Knowledge of necessary sanitation precautions and procedures during food preparation and storage. ServSafe Certification (or the equivalent of this course) or willingness to obtain such, required for State Board of Health compliance.
  • Ability to read recipes and convert measurements to the desired quantities.
  • Knowledge of requirements of USDA School Meal Patterns, as specified by the USDA Child Nutrition Program.
  • Prior outside cooking experience or experience as a school nutrition general worker.
  • Cooperative attitude and ability to work well with students, school personnel and co-workers.
  • Able to follow verbal and written instructions, observe and take initiative where help is needed.
  • Cooperative attitude in working with students, school personnel, co-workers, management and administration.
  • Personal cleanliness and knowledge of sanitation principles as related to food preparation.
  • Knowledge of or willingness to learn the operation of kitchen equipment.
  • Must be able to stand and work continuously for the duration of scheduled shift.

  • Possess the physical ability to perform the above responsibilities. Must be able to lift 50 pounds.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 
The following provides a brief description of physical requirements for this position:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly talking, expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly. The employee must possess normal cognitive abilities including the ability to learn, recall and apply certain skills.  Ability to perform work requiring sustained moderate physical effort, operation of commercial food service equipment, movement of objects weighing 40-50 pounds and continuous standing. 
PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
The work of this nature is generally performed in a school kitchen and cafeteria environment. 
PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS







  • All persons employed by the Appoquinimink School District are required to submit a criminal background check and a tuberculosis test.
  • Anyone offered employment is required to provide the following:  proper identification (Social Security Card and Driver's License), documentation of eligibility for employment in the U.S.A., completion of I-9 form, and completion of paperwork for the Delaware Child Protection Registry.
  •  

ADA ACCOMMODATIONS DISCLOSURE
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Appoquinimink School District is required to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities, unless doing so would pose an undue hardship. Qualified employees must have the requisite skills, experience, education, and licenses for the job, and must also be able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations. 
NONDISCRIMINATION DISCLOSURE
The Appoquinimink School District is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in its educational programs, services, and activities for all students and employees.  The Appoquinimink School District does not discriminate or retaliate in the hiring, training, assignment, promotion/transfer of employees on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, domicile, marital status, handicap, or any other characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
EVALUATION 
Job performance will be evaluated in accordance with the provisions set forth in the negotiated contract between the Appoquinimink School District Board of Education and the Appoquinimink Food Service Workers Association. 
APPLICATION PROCESS








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