### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Cooks Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			CooksCooks prepare a wide range of dishes.							
						Quick Facts:     Cooks2023     Median Pay
            						$34,320     per year
										$16.50     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    See How to Become OneWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    See How to Become OneOn-the-job Training
                                    See How to Become OneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    2,729,300Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    6% (Faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    175,300What Cooks Do
                                                
                        
                        
Cooks season and prepare foods, including soups, salads, entrees, and desserts.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Cooks work in restaurants, schools, hospitals, private households, and other places where food is prepared and served. Their work hours may include early mornings, late evenings, holidays, and weekends. Most cooks work full time, although part-time work is common.
            
                                                How to Become a Cook
                                                
                        
Cooks typically learn their skills through on-the-job training and related work experience. Although no formal education is required, some cooks attend culinary school.
            
                        Pay
                        																																					    														The median hourly wage for cooks was $16.50 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Overall employment							of cooks is projected to grow							 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 439,300 openings for cooks are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for cooks.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of cooks with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about cooks by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Cooks Do 
            

			CooksCooks may prepare fresh vegetables.			
Cooks season and prepare foods, including soups, salads, entrees, and desserts.
Duties
Cooks typically do the following:
Ensure the freshness of ingredients
Weigh, measure, and mix ingredients according to recipes
Bake, grill, or fry meats, fish, vegetables, and other foods
Boil and steam meats, fish, vegetables, and other foods
Arrange and garnish food on serving dishes
Clean work areas, equipment, utensils, and dishes
Cook, handle, and store food or ingredientsCooks usually work under the direction of chefs, head cooks, or food service managers. Large restaurants and food service establishments often have multiple menus and large kitchen staffs. Teams of restaurant cooks, sometimes called *assistant cooks* or *line cooks*, work at assigned stations equipped with the stoves, grills, pans, and ingredients they need to prepare food.
Job titles often reflect the principal ingredient cooks prepare or the type of cooking they do, such as *fry cook* or *grill cook*.
Cooks use a variety of kitchen equipment, including broilers, grills, slicers, grinders, and blenders.
Cooks' responsibilities vary depending on the type of food service establishment, the size of the facility, and the level of service offered. However, in all establishments, they follow sanitation procedures when handling food. For example, they store food and ingredients at the correct temperatures to prevent bacterial growth.
The following are examples of types of cooks:
***Fast food cooks*** prepare a limited selection of menu items in fast-food restaurants. They cook and package food, such as hamburgers and fried chicken, to be kept warm until served. For more information about workers who prepare and serve items in fast-food restaurants, see the profiles on food preparation workers and food and beverage serving and related workers.
***Institution and cafeteria cooks*** work in the kitchens of schools, cafeterias, businesses, hospitals, and other establishments. They typically prepare a large quantity of entrees, vegetables, and desserts according to preset menus. However, they sometimes customize meals, such as for diners’ dietary considerations.
***Private household cooks,*** sometimes called *personal chefs,* plan and prepare meals in private homes, according to the client’s tastes and dietary needs. They pick up groceries and supplies, clean the kitchen, and wash dishes and utensils. They also may cater parties, holiday meals, luncheons, and other events. Private household cooks typically work full-time for one client, although many are self-employed or employed by an agency, regularly preparing meals for multiple clients.
***Restaurant cooks*** prepare a variety of dishes, usually by individual order, in eating establishments. Some restaurant cooks order supplies and help maintain the stock room.
***Short order cooks*** prepare and sometimes serve foods in restaurants and coffee shops that emphasize fast service. For example, they might make sandwiches, fry eggs, and cook french fries, often working on several orders at the same time.
 Work Environment
			cooks imageCooks often work in restaurants.			

	    
				
	
	    	    		Cooks held about 2.7 million jobs in 2022. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up cooks was distributed as follows:
    	    	
    	Cooks, restaurant
                1,361,200Cooks, fast food
                742,000Cooks, institution and cafeteria
                434,500Cooks, short order
                137,400Cooks, private household
                34,000Cooks, all other
                20,200The largest employers of cooks were as follows:
        Restaurants and other eating places
                72%Healthcare and social assistance
                6Educational services; state, local, and private
                6Cooks work in restaurants, schools, hospitals, hotels, and other establishments where food is prepared and served. They often prepare only part of a dish and coordinate with other cooks and kitchen workers to complete meals on time. Some work in private homes.
Cooks stand for long periods and work under pressure in a fast-paced environment. Although most cooks work indoors in kitchens, some may work outdoors at food stands, at catered events, or in mobile food trucks.
Injuries and Illnesses
Kitchens are usually crowded and filled with potential dangers, such as hot ovens or slippery floors. Cooks, all other, in particular, have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. ("All other" titles represent occupations with a wide range of characteristics that do not fit into any of the other detailed occupations.)
The most common hazards are slips, falls, cuts, and burns, although injuries are seldom serious. To reduce the risks, cooks wear gloves, long-sleeve shirts, aprons, and nonslip shoes.
Work Schedules
Most cooks work full time, although part-time work is common. Work schedules vary and may include early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays. In school cafeterias and some institutional cafeterias, cooks usually have more regular hours.
Cooks who are employed in schools may work only during the school year, typically for 9 or 10 months. Similarly, cooks who are employed in some resort establishments work only for seasonal operation.
 How to Become a Cook

			CooksCooks typically learn their skills on the job from an experienced chef.			
Most cooks learn their skills through on-the-job training and work-related experience. Although no formal education is typically required, some cooks attend culinary schools. Others attend vocational or apprenticeship programs.
Education
Cooks typically do not need formal education. However, employers may require or prefer that applicants have a high school diploma.
Vocational cooking schools, professional culinary institutes, and some colleges offer programs and courses on topics such as cooking techniques and international cuisines. Programs generally last from a few months to 2 years, and applicants may be required to have a high school diploma or equivalent. Depending on the type and length of the program, graduates generally qualify for entry-level positions as a restaurant cook.
Training
Cooks typically learn their skills on the job. The length of on-the-job training varies for different types of cooks. Trainees generally first learn kitchen basics and workplace safety and then learn how to handle and cook food.
Some cooks learn through an apprenticeship program. Culinary institutes, industry associations, and trade unions may sponsor such programs for cooks. Apprentices complete courses in food sanitation and safety, basic knife skills, and equipment operation. They also learn practical cooking skills under the supervision of an experienced chef. The length of apprenticeship programs vary but typically last about 1 year.
The American Culinary Federation accredits many academic training programs and sponsors apprenticeships through these programs around the country. Minimum qualifications for entering an apprenticeship program typically include being at least 17 years old and having a high school diploma or equivalent.
Some hotels and restaurants offer their own training programs.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Many states do not require certification for cooks. Some states and localities require cooks to have a food handler’s certification. For more information, contact your state or local licensing board.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
Many cooks, particularly those who work in restaurants and private households, learn their skills through work-related experience. Starting as a kitchen helper or food preparationworker allows cooks to learn basic skills, which may lead to opportunities to gain experience in assistant cook or line cook positions. Some work under the guidance of more experienced cooks.
Advancement
The American Culinary Federation certifies chefs, personal chefs, pastry chefs, and culinary administrators, among others. Professional certification may lead to higher level or higher paying positions.
Advancement opportunities for cooks often depend on training, work experience, and the ability to prepare complex dishes. Those interested in advancing should learn new cooking skills and take on increasing responsibility, such as supervising kitchen staff in the absence of a chef. Some cooks train or supervise kitchen staff, and some become head cooks, chefs, or food service managers.
Important Qualities
***Attention to detail.*** Cooks need to listen carefully to orders and follow recipes to prepare dishes correctly.
***Dexterity.*** Cooks should have excellent hand–eye coordination. For example, they need to use proper knife techniques for cutting, chopping, and dicing.
***Physical stamina.*** Cooks spend a lot of time standing in one place, cooking food over hot stoves, and cleaning work areas.
***Sense of taste and smell.*** Cooks must have a keen sense of taste and smell to prepare meals that customers enjoy.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                CooksMedian hourly wages, May 2023Total, all occupations$23.11   Cooks$16.50   Cooks and food preparation workers$16.36Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median hourly wage for cooks was $16.50 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $11.25, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $21.78.

			
                    	Median hourly wages for cooks in May 2023 were as follows:
        Cooks, private household
		$20.48Cooks, all other
		17.27Cooks, restaurant
		17.20Cooks, institution and cafeteria
		16.98Cooks, short order
		16.41Cooks, fast food
		14.07In May 2023, the median hourly wages for cooks in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Healthcare and social assistance
                $17.36Restaurants and other eating places
                16.21Educational services; state, local, and private
                15.56Pay for cooks varies greatly by region and type of employer. Pay is usually highest in upscale hotels and restaurants, as well as in major metropolitan and resort areas.
Most cooks work full time, although part-time work is common. Work schedules may vary and may include early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays. In school cafeterias and some institutional cafeterias, cooks usually have more regular hours.
Cooks employed in schools may work only during the school year, typically for 9 or 10 months. Similarly, cooks employed in some resort establishments work only for seasonal operation.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                CooksPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Cooks6%  Cooks and food preparation workers4%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Overall employment				of cooks is projected to grow				 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 439,300 openings for cooks are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Projected employment of cooks varies by occupation (see table).
Population and income growth are expected to result in greater consumer demand for food at a variety of dining places. People will continue to eat out, buy takeout meals, or have food delivered. New restaurants, cafeterias, and catering services are expected to open, requiring more cooks to prepare meals for this increased consumer demand.
In addition, consumers continue to prefer healthy foods in restaurants, grocery stores, and other dining venues. To prepare high-quality meals at these places, many managers and chefs will require experienced cooks.
Employment of some cooks is projected to decline, however. For example, reduced demand for fast food cooks is expected because of automated systems, employment of workers who both prepare and serve food, and other efforts to streamline operations.
			

                        Employment projections data for     cooks, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Cooks**
			35-2010
			2,729,300
			2,904,500
			6
			175,300
			Get data**Cooks, fast food**
			35-2011
			742,000
			640,400
			-14
			-101,600
			Get data**Cooks, institution and cafeteria**
			35-2012
			434,500
			443,400
			2
			8,900
			Get data**Cooks, private household**
			35-2013
			34,000
			32,100
			-6
			-1,900
			Get data**Cooks, restaurant**
			35-2014
			1,361,200
			1,638,900
			20
			277,600
			Get data**Cooks, short order**
			35-2015
			137,400
			128,900
			-6
			-8,400
			Get data**Cooks, all other**
			35-2019
			20,200
			20,800
			3
			600
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Cooks, all other
					Cooks, fast food
					Cooks, institution and cafeteria
					Cooks, private household
					Cooks, restaurant
					Cooks, short order **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of cooks. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Bakers**
            Bakers mix ingredients according to recipes in order to make breads, pastries, and other baked goods.
            No formal educational credential
            $34,950**Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers**
            Food and beverage serving and related workers take and prepare orders, clear tables, and do other tasks associated with providing food and drink to customers.
            No formal educational credential
            $29,710**Food Preparation Workers**
            Food preparation workers perform a variety of tasks other than cooking, such as slicing meat and brewing coffee.
            No formal educational credential
            $32,420**Food Service Managers**
            Food service managers are responsible for the daily operation of restaurants or other establishments that prepare and serve food and beverages.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $63,060
 Contacts for More Information
								
Visit Apprenticeship.gov to search for information about apprenticeship opportunities.
For more information about cooking careers, visit
American Culinary Federation
National Restaurant Association
For information about becoming a personal chef, visit
United States Personal Chef Association
For information about certification, contact your state or local licensing board or a professional association.
CareerOneStop
For career videos on cooks, visit
Cooks, Fast Food
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
Cooks, Short Order

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Cooks, All OtherCooks, Fast FoodCooks, Institution and CafeteriaCooks, Private HouseholdCooks, RestaurantCooks, Short Order
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Cooks, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/food-preparation-and-serving/cooks.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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