Restaurant Cook

Your Fit

Income

$37K

Preparation

Some

Growth

20.4%

Definition
Your fit with this career
How much they earn
What they do
Job satisfaction
How to become

What is a Restaurant Cook?

A Restaurant Cook is a culinary professional responsible for preparing and cooking a variety of dishes in a restaurant setting. They work to ensure that meals are made to the establishment's standard and customer satisfaction.

Sample job titles:

Cook, Grill Cook, Line Cook, Prep Cook (Preparation Cook)

Your test results

Why this fit score?

The fit report shows your areas of fit and misfit with Restaurant Cook.

Fit report

Test scores

The scores report summarizes what we learned about you. It shows your results on everything measured in the career test.

Scores report

How much does a Restaurant Cook earn

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, typical income (in USD) in 2024 was...

Bottom 10%	Bottom 25%	Median (average)	Top 25%	Top 10%
$28K per year	$31K per year	$37K per year	$44K per year	$47K per year

Compared to other careers: Median is $13K below the national average.

See income by country/state/province

What does a Restaurant Cook do?

Work environment

Restaurant Cooks typically work in the kitchens of full-service restaurants, fast-food establishments, or other dining venues. The environment is fast-paced, often hot, and can be high-pressure, especially during peak dining times. Cooks work alongside other kitchen staff, under the supervision of a head chef or kitchen manager.

Quick task list

Prepares and cooks food items according to recipes and customer requests.
Sets up and stocks stations with necessary supplies.
Ensures food quality and freshness.
Maintains cleanliness and sanitation in the kitchen.
Manages food inventory and reduces waste.

See full list of tasks with expert relevance ratings

Areas of specialization

Line Cook: Specializes in a particular station such as grill, sauté, or fry.
Sous Chef: Acts as the second in command in the kitchen, assisting the head chef.
Pastry Cook: Focuses on the creation of desserts and baked goods.
Expediter: Coordinates orders between the kitchen and the dining room to ensure timely service.
Prep Cook: Specializes in preparing ingredients for the line cooks.

Description

The role of a Restaurant Cook is both challenging and rewarding, requiring a blend of culinary skills, time management, and teamwork. Cooks need to have a thorough understanding of cooking methods, ingredients, and kitchen equipment. Creativity is also important, as cooks often contribute to the development of new dishes and menu items. Being able to work efficiently and maintain composure under pressure is crucial, especially during busy meal services.

A career as a Restaurant Cook offers the opportunity to develop a diverse set of culinary skills and can be a stepping stone to more advanced positions in the culinary world, such as sous chef or head chef. The work environment fosters teamwork and camaraderie, as cooks work closely with other kitchen staff to deliver high-quality food. Continuous learning is a significant part of this career, with cooks regularly updating their skills and knowledge to keep up with culinary trends and dietary preferences.

However, the occupation can be physically demanding, with long hours spent standing, lifting, and working in a hot kitchen. The hours can be irregular, with weekend, evening, and holiday work common. Despite these challenges, many find great satisfaction in seeing the immediate results of their work and receiving positive feedback from customers.

Job Satisfaction

Sources of satisfaction

Creating enjoyable and high-quality dishes for customers.
Working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
Opportunities for creative expression through food.
Career growth potential within the culinary industry.

You might make a good Restaurant Cook if you are...

Passionate about cooking and gastronomy.
Able to work efficiently under pressure.
Detail-oriented, ensuring consistency and quality in food preparation.
A good team player, able to collaborate effectively with kitchen staff.
Eager to learn and adapt to new cooking techniques and trends.

Pros:

Creative and fulfilling work in food preparation.
Opportunities for career advancement in the culinary field.
Dynamic work environment with a strong team spirit.

Cons:

Physically demanding with long hours, often in a hot environment.
Work schedule may include nights, weekends, and holidays.
High-pressure environment, especially during peak dining times.

How to become a Restaurant Cook

Typical education

While formal education is not always required, many Restaurant Cooks have a high school diploma along with culinary training from a vocational school, community college, or culinary school. This training can range from a few months to 2 years. On-the-job training is also common in this field.

High school preparation

Courses:

Home Economics or Culinary Arts for basic cooking skills.
Mathematics for managing recipes and measurements.
Business Studies for understanding kitchen management.

Extra-Curricular Activities:

Participating in cooking clubs or culinary competitions.
Volunteering or working in local restaurants or catering services.
Attending cooking workshops or food expos.

Preparation after high school

Culinary school for formal training in cooking and kitchen techniques.
Apprenticeships or internships in restaurants for practical experience.
Continuous learning through culinary workshops, seminars, and food shows.

More resources

American Culinary Federation (ACF) - Provides educational resources, certification, and networking opportunities for cooks and chefs.
The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) - A renowned culinary school offering a range of culinary education programs.
Chef's Resources - An online resource offering culinary information, kitchen management tips, and recipes.
Eat Your Books - A vast database of recipes and cooking resources for culinary enthusiasts and professionals.

Similar careers

Similarity is based on what people in the careers do, what they know, and what they are called. The process of establishing similarity lists is described in this white paper.