Cooks, Private Household earn a median of $47,940 per year ($23.05/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 5.1% through 2035, with about 5,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
- SOC 35-2013
- Food Preparation and Serving Related
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Cook, Private Household in four numbers
- Median pay
- $47,940a year, or $23.05/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $36KTop 10% $91K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.1%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 5,00035,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202535.4K
- Projected 203537.2K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 35.4K Projected 2035 37.2K - Typical education
- Certificateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school15.4%
- High school30.8%
- Certificate38.5%
- Some college3.9%
- Associate's11.5%
Highest education held by cooks, private household Segment Value Less than high school 15.4% High school 30.8% Certificate 38.5% Some college 3.9% Associate's 11.5%
Also advertised as: Certified Personal Chef (CPC), Personal Chef, Personal Private Chef, Private Chef.
Pay
How much do Cooks, Private Household make?
Every cook, private household in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$47,940
Middle half earn $40,630 to $55,450
- 10th
- $36,090
- 25th
- $40,630
- 75th
- $55,450
- 90th
- $91,130
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $36,090 |
| 25th | $40,630 |
| Median | $47,940 |
| 75th | $55,450 |
| 90th | $91,130 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $47,940
- Median hourly wage
- $23.05/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $53,680
- People employed
- 1,100
Versus all US occupations
At $47,940, Cooks, Private Household earn 6% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $3,040 a year.
Versus food preparation and serving related occupations
Inside the Food Preparation and Serving Related group, where the middle occupation pays $35,360, this is 36% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $91,130 or more while the bottom 10% earn $36,090, a gap of 2.5×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 18% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New York pays the most at $37,440, and still leads at $34,692 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Cooks, Private Household the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New York | $37,440 | $34,692 | 140 |
Job outlook
Is Cook, Private Household a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.1% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Cooks, Private Household | +5.1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Cooks, Private Household to change 5.1% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 1,800 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 5,000 openings are projected each year, 14.1% of the 35,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of cooks is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of cooks varies by occupation (see table).
Population and income growth are expected to result in greater consumer demand for food at a variety of dining places. People will continue to eat out, buy takeout meals, or have food delivered. New restaurants, cafeterias, and catering services are expected to open, requiring more cooks to prepare meals for this increased consumer demand.
Getting in
How to become a Cook, Private Household
Most cooks learn their skills through on-the-job training and work-related experience. Although no formal education is typically required, some cooks attend culinary schools. Others attend vocational or apprenticeship programs.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Postsecondary nondegree award
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as cooks, private household.
- Post-Secondary Certificate38.5%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)30.8%
- Less than a High School Diploma15.4%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree11.5%
- Some College Courses3.9%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 38.5% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 30.8% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 15.4% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 11.5% |
| Some College Courses | 3.9% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Cook, Private Household do?
Prepare meals in private homes. Includes personal chefs.
Cooks season and prepare foods, including soups, salads, entrees, and desserts.
Day-to-day 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.
- Keep records pertaining to menus, finances, and other business-related issues.
- Stock, organize, and clean kitchens and cooking utensils.
- Specialize in preparing fancy dishes or food for special diets.
- Create and explore new cuisines.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most cooks work full time, although part-time work is common. Work schedules vary and may include early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays. In school cafeterias and some institutional cafeterias, cooks usually have more regular hours.
Cooks who are employed in schools may work only during the school year, typically for 9 or 10 months. Similarly, cooks who are employed in some resort establishments work only for seasonal operation.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.3
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Active Listening3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Monitoring3.0
- Writing2.9
- Active Learning2.9
- Learning Strategies2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.3 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Writing | 2.9 |
| Active Learning | 2.9 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Service Orientation3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Coordination2.9
- Management of Material Resources2.9
- Persuasion2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Service Orientation | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
| Management of Material Resources | 2.9 |
| Persuasion | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Electronic mail software
- Internet browser software
- Inventory management software
- Video creation and editing software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Cook, Private Household?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Cook, Private Household |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 4 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
- Realistic5.0
- Social3.8
- Artistic3.8
- Conventional3.7
- Enterprising3.5
- Investigative1.4
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Cook, Private Household
O*NET related occupations
- Food Preparation and Serving Related
- Food Preparation and Serving Related
- Food Preparation and Serving Related
- Food Preparation and Serving Related
- Food Preparation and Serving Related
- Food Preparation and Serving Related
More food preparation and serving related careers
Median annual pay, with cooks, private household highlighted
- Chef$62,470
- Cook, Private Household$47,940
- Food Preparation Worker$35,320
- Server$35,230
- Bartender$34,340
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper$33,980
- Barista$31,200
- Fast Food and Counter Worker$31,200
- Host and Hostess, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$31,200
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Chef | $62,470 |
| Cook, Private Household | $47,940 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,320 |
| Server | $35,230 |
| Bartender | $34,340 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $33,980 |
| Barista | $31,200 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $31,200 |
| Host and Hostess, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within cook, private household
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Cook, Private Household appears on
Questions
Cook, Private Household: frequently asked questions
How much do Cooks, Private Household make?
Cooks, Private Household earn a median of $47,940 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 6% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $23.05/hr. The middle half earn between $40,630 and $55,450. The top 10% earn $91,130 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Cook, Private Household?
Not a degree, but you do need credentialed training: BLS lists a postsecondary non-degree award (a certificate or license program) as the typical entry route for Cooks, Private Household. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 38.5% hold post-secondary certificate.
Is Cook, Private Household a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.1% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 5,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Cook, Private Household do?
Cooks season and prepare foods, including soups, salads, entrees, and desserts. A core O*NET task: peel, wash, trim, and cook vegetables and meats, and bake breads and pastries. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Web page creation and editing software.
Which states pay Cooks, Private Household the most?
The highest state medians for Cooks, Private Household are New York ($37,440) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Cook, Private Household?
O*NET scores Cooks, Private Household highest on the Realistic, Social and Artistic interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESFJ, ISFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.