CFChooseField
Food Service

Cooks, Restaurant

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.

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

$36,830
Median annual pay for Cooks, Restaurant.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

14.9%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

250,700
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

1,460,200
Estimated U.S. employment for Cooks, Restaurant in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

+217,000
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

No formal educational credential
Typical additional preparation: Less than 5 years of related work experience; Moderate-term on-the-job training.
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. 2Monitoring
  3. 3Speaking
  4. 4Active Listening
  5. 5Active Learning
  6. 6Reading Comprehension

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Food Production
  2. 2English Language
  3. 3Customer and Personal Service
  4. 4Production and Processing
  5. 5Education and Training
  6. 6Mathematics

Abilities

  1. 1Near Vision
  2. 2Manual Dexterity
  3. 3Problem Sensitivity
  4. 4Arm-Hand Steadiness
  5. 5Control Precision
  6. 6Finger Dexterity

Career interests

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

Work styles

  1. 1Dependability
  2. 2Attention to Detail
  3. 3Cooperation
  4. 4Stress Tolerance
  5. 5Perseverance
  6. 6Self-Control

Work activities

  1. 1Handling and Moving Objects
  2. 2Performing General Physical Activities
  3. 3Getting Information
  4. 4Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
  5. 5Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
  6. 6Processing Information

Work context

  1. 1Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
  2. 2Spend Time Standing
  3. 3Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  4. 4Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
  5. 5Contact With Others
  6. 6Importance of Being Exact or Accurate

Representative tasks

  • 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.

Software and tools

Facebook · hot technologyMicrosoft Excel · hot technologyMicrosoft Office software · hot technologyMicrosoft Outlook · hot technologyMicrosoft Word · hot technologyFood safety labeling systemsMenu planning softwarePoint of sale POS restaurant softwareRecipe cost control software

Sources

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

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