Cook Careers Information
A cook may be defined broadly as anyone who prepares food. Such work may or may not include following a set recipe, but will likely mean some level of preparation, mixture, and cooking of separate ingredients into a finished meal. Unlike head chefs who oversee kitchens or spend their time creating new recipes, cooks are right in the thick of it,chopping vegetables, grilling meats, and/or mixing sauces.
Cook Careers & Degrees
- Virginia College: Mobile
Lincoln Culinary Institute: Columbia
Art Institutes: The Art Institute of Atlanta
Cook careers may be divided into many subcategories, as indicated below.
Private household cooks work within homes and prepare meals for a specific family. Depending on the size of the home and the employer’s income, such cooks may perform other household duties and may or may not live on the premises.
Restaurant cooks are what are most commonly thought of; they may be in charge of a specific type of cooking; making sauces, preparing desserts, or grilling meat or help as needed.
Institution or cafeteria cooks cook for large groups of people, like school children or hospital patients. The meals they make tend to be very set as they must feed a large number of people cheaply and quickly.
Short-order cooks tend to work in small establishments that have a small menu comprised of quick meals like hamburgers or breakfast foods.
Food preparation workers work in an assembly line fashion in order to prepare large amounts of food, often for catering events or large institutions.
Fast-food cooks are often very young and make the set items,hamburgers, french fries, pizza,found in fast-food restaurants. These types of cooks have the least training are the most limited in what they prepare.
Cook Careers Path
Most cooks are trained on the job; if they begin at a fast food restaurant, even before they have finished high school. For positions with more responsibility, a high school diploma is the minimum requirement and formal training at a vocational or culinary school is very helpful.
At such institutions, students learn proper cleaning, cutting, and storage methods as well as techniques for cooking like boiling, frying, and grilling. Certification can be earned from the American Culinary Federation and is useful for those who wish to move into the best paying positions or become head chefs.
Cook Careers: Compatible Personality Traits
Works well with others, able to follow directions, quick and efficient worker, good communicator, excellent working with hands, creative, good sense of taste and smell, conscious of person hygiene.
Cook Careers: Salary Expectations
The average yearly salary for cooks varies greatly depending on the region on the country and the specific type of employment. Generally, those who work at higher end restaurants earn more than those who work in less well regarded establishments.
Below are some averages by position type:
- Private Household Cook $24,070
- Institution/Cafeteria Cook $22,210
- Restaurant Cook $21,990
- Short-order Cook $19,260
- Food Preparation Worker $18,630
- Fast-Food Cook $16,880
Some restaurants include free or reduced cost meals as a perk for their workers, though some do not. Those who gain experience may be able to move into supervisory positions or positions at better establishments in order to earn more money.
Cook Careers: Job Outlook
The job growth for all types of cooks is to be about average in the coming years. Some fields, such as those in catering and food services, should experience more growth, while others, such as private household and short-order cooks, will show far less to no growth. There should still be plenty of opportunities, however, due to the high turnover rate in the industry.
Those looking to work in high-end establishments will face competition since there are always more qualified applicants than available positions. In these types of jobs, those cooks with formal training and experience should have the best chance of finding work.
Cook Associations and Resources
The American Culinary Federation
The International Association of Culinary ProfessionalsSlightly off the Footpath
Culinary News
Whether you want to start a culinary career or you’re an experienced chef looking to learn more, you need to know the latest industry news. Our Read more about Culinary Arts >>
Source: bls.gov/oco/ocos331.htm
