CFChooseField
Food Service

Cooks, Private Household

Prepare meals in private homes. Includes personal chefs.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Cooks, Private Household
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Median pay

$44,530
Median annual pay for Cooks, Private Household.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

5.1%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

5,300
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

34,200
Estimated U.S. employment for Cooks, Private Household in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

+1,700
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

Postsecondary nondegree award
Typical additional preparation: Less than 5 years of related work experience.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Critical Thinking
  2. 2Active Listening
  3. 3Monitoring
  4. 4Reading Comprehension
  5. 5Speaking
  6. 6Active Learning

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Customer and Personal Service
  2. 2Food Production
  3. 3Sales and Marketing
  4. 4Administration and Management
  5. 5Mathematics
  6. 6Production and Processing

Abilities

  1. 1Near Vision
  2. 2Fluency of Ideas
  3. 3Problem Sensitivity
  4. 4Deductive Reasoning
  5. 5Finger Dexterity
  6. 6Information Ordering

Career interests

  1. 1Realistic
  2. 2Social
  3. 3Artistic
  4. 4Conventional
  5. 5Enterprising
  6. 6Investigative

Work styles

  1. 1Dependability
  2. 2Attention to Detail
  3. 3Innovation
  4. 4Integrity
  5. 5Self-Control
  6. 6Cooperation

Work activities

  1. 1Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
  2. 2Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  3. 3Getting Information
  4. 4Thinking Creatively
  5. 5Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  6. 6Performing General Physical Activities

Work context

  1. 1Spend Time Standing
  2. 2Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
  3. 3E-Mail
  4. 4Time Pressure
  5. 5Freedom to Make Decisions
  6. 6Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

Representative tasks

  • Peel, wash, trim, and cook vegetables and meats, and bake breads and pastries.
  • Cool, package, label, and freeze foods for later consumption and provide instructions for reheating.
  • Plan menus according to employers' needs and diet restrictions.
  • Shop for or order food and kitchen supplies and equipment.
  • Prepare meals in private homes according to employers' recipes or tastes, handling all meals for the family and possibly for other household staff.
  • Keep records pertaining to menus, finances, and other business-related issues.
  • Stock, organize, and clean kitchens and cooking utensils.
  • Direct the operation and organization of kitchens and all food-related activities, including the presentation and serving of food.

Software and tools

Intuit QuickBooks · hot technologyWordPress · hot technologyAPPCA Personal Chef OfficeCooking e-booksCost tracking softwareEmail softwareFood inventory softwareWeb browser softwareWork scheduling softwareYouTube

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

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