Occupations35-2014.00

Cooks, Restaurant

Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants.

Median annual pay
$36,830

BLS, 2024

Employment
1,460,200

U.S., 2024

Ten-year outlook
+14.9%

2024–34

Annual openings
250,700

Projected average

The work

Core tasks

  1. 01Ensure food is stored and cooked at correct temperature by regulating temperature of ovens, broilers, grills, and roasters.
  2. 02Inspect and clean food preparation areas, such as equipment, work surfaces, and serving areas, to ensure safe and sanitary food-handling practices.
  3. 03Portion, arrange, and garnish food, and serve food to waiters or patrons.
  4. 04Ensure freshness of food and ingredients by checking for quality, keeping track of old and new items, and rotating stock.
  5. 05Season and cook food according to recipes or personal judgment and experience.
  6. 06Coordinate and supervise work of kitchen staff.
  7. 07Bake, roast, broil, and steam meats, fish, vegetables, and other foods.
  8. 08Weigh, measure, and mix ingredients according to recipes or personal judgment, using various kitchen utensils and equipment.
  9. 09Turn or stir foods to ensure even cooking.
  10. 10Observe and test foods to determine if they have been cooked sufficiently, using methods such as tasting, smelling, or piercing them with utensils.
  11. 11Substitute for or assist other cooks during emergencies or rush periods.
  12. 12Wash, peel, cut, and seed fruits and vegetables to prepare them for consumption.

Capabilities

Essential skills

SpeakingCritical ThinkingMonitoringActive ListeningReading ComprehensionActive LearningWritingMathematicsLearning StrategiesScience

Employment outlook

Where the role is heading

U.S. employment is projected to move from 1,460,200 in 2024 to 1,677,200 in 2034, a +14.9% change.

BLS projects an average of 250,700 openings each year over the period, including openings created by workers leaving the occupation.