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Professional Cook Training and Jobs

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Schools and Degrees

The American Culinary Federation accredits more than 200 formal academic training programs and sponsors several apprenticeship programs around the country. Typical apprenticeships last 2 years and combine classroom training and work experience. Accreditation is an indication that a culinary program meets recognized standards regarding course content, facilities and quality of instruction. Some of the programs offered for professional cooks are the Level 2 Diploma in Professional Cookery, BTEC National Certificate/Diploma in Hospitality, BTEC HNC in Hospitality Management, BTEC HND in Professional Cookery and the Foundation degree in Professional Culinary Arts.

Many school districts provide on-the-job training and summer workshops for cafeteria kitchen workers who aspire to become chefs, in cooperation with state departments of education. Food service management companies, hotels and restaurant chains also offer paid internships and summer jobs to those starting out in the field.

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Training and Education

Employees are generally expected to have moderate-term on-the-job training. About 5% of professional cooks hold a bachelor's degree or better. Currently 19% of workers have some college education, though not a degree. About 77% of employees were able to get their jobs with a high-school diploma.

Job Overview

Professional cooks prepare, cook and season an array of foods. They work in restaurants, hotels and institutions. Food preparation workers prepare poultry, trim meat, peel and cut vegetables and perform other duties like keeping work areas clean and monitoring temperatures of ovens and stovetops to assist them. Professional cooks plan menus, decide serving sizes, order food supplies and oversee kitchen operations. They ensure uniform quality and presentation of meals. The specific duties of professional cooks are often determined by the restaurant in which they work.

Job Requirements

The American Culinary Federation certifies pastry professionals, personal chefs and culinary educators in addition to various levels of chefs. Certification standards are based primarily on experience and formal training. Although certification is not required, it can help prove accomplishment and lead to career advancement and higher-paying positions.

Professional cooks should be efficient, quick and work well in a team. They are required to have creativity and an intense sense of taste and smell. Personal cleanliness is essential because most states require health certificates indicating that workers are free from communicable diseases.

Nature of Work

Professional cooks work in different environments depending on the type and quantity of food they are preparing. They may be required to stand for hours at a time, lift heavy pots and pans and work near hot ovens and grills. Work can be in the early mornings, late evenings, holidays and weekends.

Area Job Conditions

Professional cooks are relatively common in Houma (Louisiana), Champaign (Illinois), and Lake Charles (Louisiana). They are rarer in Atlanta (Georgia), Kansas City (Missouri), and Edison (New Jersey).

Workers are paid highest in Oakland (California), Nassau (New York), and Champaign (Illinois), and lowest in Montgomery (Alabama), Akron (Ohio), and Lake Charles (Louisiana).

Part-Time and Self Employment

About 30% of professional cooks work less than full-time. In 1% of the cases, workers work for themselves.

Professional Cooks by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)

In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.

Alaska

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Anchorage $29,000 70 +377%

Arkansas

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Little Rock $20,000 30 -4%

California

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Los Angeles $27,000 540 +45%
Oakland $31,000 210 +130%
Oxnard $31,000 80 +200%
Riverside $30,000 110 0%
Sacramento $25,000 130 +64%
San Diego $26,000 180 +50%
San Francisco $30,000 240 +164%
San Luis Obispo $33,000 30 +283%
Santa Ana $26,000 310 +132%
Santa Rosa $30,000 50 +227%

Colorado

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Denver $28,000 50 -56%

Connecticut

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bridgeport $28,000 120 +210%

Delaware

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Wilmington $22,000 110 +275%

District of Columbia

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Washington $26,000 230 +3%

Florida

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Miami $19,000 90 +0%
Orlando $28,000 30 -68%
Tampa $25,000 40 -62%
West Palm Beach $28,000 50 +6%

Illinois

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Champaign $33,000 120 +1278%
Chicago $25,000 1,470 +325%
Rockford $24,000 90 +636%
Springfield $24,000 30 +226%

Louisiana

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Baton Rouge $18,000 310 +820%
Houma $24,000 150 +1765%
Lafayette $21,000 290 +2231%
New Orleans 180 +273%
Shreveport $20,000 150 +848%

Maryland

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Baltimore $26,000 90 -25%
Bethesda $27,000 70 +33%

Massachusetts

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Boston $32,000 270 +69%

Michigan

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Detroit $25,000 140 +129%
Flint $28,000 40 +255%
Grand Rapids $20,000 60 +76%

Mississippi

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Pascagoula $18,000 60 +1533%

Missouri

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
St Louis $23,000 130 +6%

Montana

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Missoula $19,000 40 +850%

Nevada

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Las Vegas $32,000 50 -36%
Reno $28,000 60 +255%

New Jersey

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Camden $26,000 60 +25%
Edison $43,000 70 -26%
Newark $26,000 170 +85%

New York

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Buffalo 50 -1%
Nassau $34,000 240 +106%
New York $31,000 500 +4%
Rochester $29,000 80 +74%
Syracuse $29,000 40 +42%

Ohio

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Akron $28,000 50 +72%
Cincinnati $26,000 220 +136%
Cleveland $25,000 250 +166%
Columbus $24,000 80 -5%
Youngstown $22,000 40 +98%

Oregon

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Portland $28,000 140 +49%

Tennessee

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Kingsport $17,000 30 +186%
Knoxville $20,000 110 +265%

Texas

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Dallas $26,000 70 -64%

Virginia

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Richmond $30,000 40 -29%

Washington

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Seattle $27,000 1,250 +869%
Spokane $24,000 50 +175%
Tacoma $24,000 140 +490%
Wenatchee $24,000 40 +1221%
*FOOTNOTES: Job Facts salary and numbers data is based on US Department of Labor Statistics data for 2011. Other data on page may be from earlier years. Typical salary is given as median salary, where 50% in the job make more and 50% less. Salary range is Job Hunt's estimates of typical starting salary as being at the 10th percentile of reported pay and typical top end salary, for the most senior workers, as being at the 90th. Job openings is an estimate of new jobs every year due to growth plus those leaving the field. Where NA is given data is not available. Suggested studies is based on Job Hunt research, suggesting a minimum degree level that is judged to offer the best opportunities for entry-level employment. This Cooks schools and career page was originally researched by CityTownInfo.com.