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Cooks, Private Household

Median Salary
42,590
Job Outlook
+6%

Overview

What are the responsibilities of this role?

Prepare meals in private homes. Includes personal chefs.

What is the job outlook?

Overall employment of cooks is projected to grow 6 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations. About 441,400 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.

Compensation

What is the typical salary range?

$60,990

10%

$42,590

Median

$77,960

90%

How does location impact how much salary?

Education

What level of education do professionals in this role have?

Education Level

  • Post-secondary certificate

    38%

  • High school

    30%

  • Less than high school

    15%

  • Associate's degree

    11%

  • Some college

    3%

Which college majors best prepare you for this role?

  • Culinary Arts/Chef Training
  • Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager
  • Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant

Skills and Interest

Which skill sets are the most valuable to possess?

Skills

  • Verbal Skills

    Low

  • Leadership

    Low

  • Math and Science Skills

    Low

  • Technology Design and Control

    Mid

  • Equipment Operation and Maintenance

    Mid

  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

    Mid

What knowledge should you bring to the table?

  • Sales and Marketing
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Administration and Management
  • Food Production
  • Administrative

What challenges will you likely face in the workplace?

Workplace

  • Time Pressure

    High

  • Physical Activity

    High

  • Exposure to Job Hazards

    Mid

  • Level Of Competition

    Mid

  • Repetitiveness

    Low

  • Responsibility

    Low

  • Decision Making

    Low

What personality traits help people thrive in this role?

Realistic

You love hands-on work and solving practical problems — like fixing things and building stuff.

Conventional

You like structure, staying organized, and working with systems to get things done efficiently.

Social

You love connecting with people, helping others and making a difference in your community.

RIASEC represents six broad interest areas—Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional—helping individuals identify careers that match their skills and preferences.

Take the RIASEC Test

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Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.