Cooks, Restaurant
Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
Median pay: $37,390/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: +14.9% projected growth, 2024–2034 — much faster than average.
About 250,700 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• Ensure food is stored and cooked at correct temperature by regulating temperature of ovens, broilers, grills, and roasters.
• Inspect and clean food preparation areas, such as equipment, work surfaces, and serving areas, to ensure safe and sanitary food-handling practices.
• Portion, arrange, and garnish food, and serve food to waiters or patrons.
• Ensure freshness of food and ingredients by checking for quality, keeping track of old and new items, and rotating stock.
• Season and cook food according to recipes or personal judgment and experience.
• Coordinate and supervise work of kitchen staff.
• Bake, roast, broil, and steam meats, fish, vegetables, and other foods.
• Weigh, measure, and mix ingredients according to recipes or personal judgment, using various kitchen utensils and equipment.
What's the median pay for Cooks, Restaurant?
The median pay for Cooks, Restaurant is $37,390 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Cooks, Restaurant?
Employment for Cooks, Restaurant is projected to change +14.9% from 2024 to 2034 - much faster than average.
What education is typically required for Cooks, Restaurant?
Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
How many job openings are there each year for Cooks, Restaurant?
About 250,700 openings per year, on average, over the decade.