What is a Cook?
Job Description & Duties All cooks not listed separately.
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Related Job Titles
- Assistant Cook
- Falafel Cart Cook
- Fraternity House Cook
Cook Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 17,800 jobs for Cook in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,600 new jobs for Cook by 2026. The BLS estimates 2,700 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Cook are North Dakota, Idaho, and New Hampshire. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Oklahoma, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Cook
The average yearly salary of a Cook ranges between $19,420 and $42,700.

Cooks who work in Nevada, Connecticut, or Hawaii, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Cooks in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $31,540 |
Alaska | $34,760 |
Arizona | $30,410 |
California | $33,910 |
Colorado | $34,770 |
Connecticut | $40,370 |
District of Columbia | $34,060 |
Florida | $28,110 |
Georgia | $31,410 |
Hawaii | $39,220 |
Illinois | $28,820 |
Indiana | $27,940 |
Iowa | $27,590 |
Kentucky | $24,910 |
Louisiana | $26,350 |
Maine | $28,670 |
Maryland | $29,620 |
Massachusetts | $33,950 |
Michigan | $25,650 |
Minnesota | $35,430 |
Mississippi | $25,860 |
Missouri | $26,890 |
Nevada | $38,980 |
New Jersey | $33,990 |
New Mexico | $32,320 |
New York | $32,800 |
North Carolina | $28,520 |
Ohio | $22,070 |
Oregon | $29,040 |
Pennsylvania | $28,640 |
Tennessee | $22,880 |
Texas | $23,770 |
Virginia | $28,220 |
Washington | $36,700 |
Wisconsin | $22,950 |
Where do Cooks Work?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

References:
Image Credit: U.S. Army Europe Images via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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