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.
Cooks, Restaurant
SOC: 35-2014 O*NET: 35-2014.00
Median Salary
$36,830
per year
Job Growth
🚀 14.9%
Much Faster (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
250.7
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2
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.
What does a Cooks, Restaurant do?
How much can you earn?
Salary Distribution by Percentile
Understanding where you might fall in the salary range based on experience and location.
10th
$22,098
25th
$29,464
50th (Median)
$36,830
75th
$44,196
90th
$55,245
Percentile Explained: If you're in the 75th percentile, you earn more than 75% of workers in this occupation. Entry-level positions typically fall in the 10th-25th percentile range, while experienced professionals often reach the 75th-90th percentile.
Typical Benefits Package
Health & Wellness
- ✓Health Insurance
- ✓Dental Insurance
- ✓Vision Insurance
- ✓Mental Health Support
- ✓Wellness Programs
Financial Benefits
- ✓401(k) Retirement Plan
- ✓Employer Match (typically 3-6%)
- ✓Profit Sharing
- ✓Stock Options
- ✓Performance Bonuses
Work-Life Balance
- ✓Paid Time Off (15-25 days)
- ✓Paid Sick Leave
- ✓Flexible Work Arrangements
- ✓Remote Work Options
- ✓Parental Leave
Professional Development
- ✓Tuition Reimbursement
- ✓Professional Certifications
- ✓Conference Attendance
- ✓Training Programs
- ✓Mentorship Opportunities
Note: Benefits vary widely by employer, company size, and location. Large corporations and tech companies often offer more comprehensive packages, while small businesses may offer fewer benefits but more flexibility. Always review the complete compensation package, not just base salary.
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
High Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:1,460,200
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+14.9%
Annual Openings:250,700
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)1,460,200
Current
2034 (Projected)1,677,200
+14.9%
+217,000
Employment Change
+14.9%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: Faster than average
Key Growth Factors
- •Faster than average growth expected
- •High current market demand
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Monitoring
100%
#2
Critical Thinking
80%
#3
Speaking
60%
#4
Time Management
40%
Skills Overview
Monitoring
advanced5.0
100%
Critical Thinking
intermediate4.0
80%
Speaking
intermediate3.0
60%
Time Management
basic2.0
40%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Monitoring
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance80%
abilities
4.0/5.0
Speaking
intermediateImportance60%
skills
3.0/5.0
Time Management
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service80%
4 shared skills
Fence Erectors67%
4 shared skills
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks67%
4 shared skills
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers60%
3 shared skills
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers60%
3 shared skills
Actors57%
4 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Monitoring
Learn on the Job:
- →Speaking
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Monitoring
- ✓Critical Thinking
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Critical Thinking
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Cooks, Restaurant
Technology Intensity
High
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft Excel
Facebook
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
VERY HIGH
👥
Team Orientation
MOSTLY TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
OCCASIONAL
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet very high physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy mostly team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What education is required?
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience Required
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
Job Training
Training of a few months to a year