Cooks
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Cooks prepare, season and cook food in dining and catering establishments.
Tasks
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examining foodstuffs to ensure quality
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regulating temperatures of ovens, grills and other cooking equipment
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preparing and cooking food
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seasoning food during cooking
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portioning food, placing it on plates, and adding gravies, sauces and garnishes
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storing food in temperature controlled facilities
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preparing food to meet special dietary requirements
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may plan menus and estimate food requirements
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may train other kitchen staff and apprentices
Characteristics
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Practical
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Enterprising
-
Medium
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers in this occupation is likely to remain stable.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.
Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.
Number of Workers
Year | Employment |
---|---|
2011 | 37,200 |
2012 | 39,900 |
2013 | 33,300 |
2014 | 34,700 |
2015 | 35,400 |
2016 | 42,200 |
2017 | 42,800 |
2018 | 39,100 |
2019 | 37,000 |
2020 | 37,800 |
2021 | 44,800 |
2026 | 45,200 |
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
-
Around 48% of people employed as Cooks work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 18 percentage points below the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 43 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Median full-time earnings are $1,188 per week, this is much lower than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,038
- 1 in 4 earn more than $1,308
Median hourly earnings are $29, this is lower than the all jobs median ($41 per hour).
Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.
Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)
Earnings | Cooks | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 1,188 | 1,593 |
Total Earnings | 0 | 0 |
Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Industries
Main industries
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Most Cooks work in the Accommodation and food services industry. They are also employed in industries like:
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2021.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Cooks | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 31.1 | 31.6 |
VIC | 24.5 | 25.6 |
QLD | 20.3 | 20.0 |
SA | 7.5 | 7.0 |
WA | 10.9 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.8 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.5 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.4 | 1.9 |
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Around 46% of Cooks live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Worker profile
Age and gender
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The median age of Cooks is 35 years. This is younger than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 54% of the workforce. This is 6 percentage points above the all jobs average of 48%.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile (% Share)
Age Bracket | Cooks | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 8.5 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 14.8 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 26.3 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 16.8 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 17.5 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 7.8 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 5.3 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 3.0 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 35 | 40 |
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Employment Pathways
Education, training and experience
Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Cook. Although some workers have a certificate III or IV in cooking, catering or kitchen operations.
Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Tourism, Travel and Hospitality VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Cooks | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 2.1 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 9.3 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 13.1 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 22.0 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 25.0 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 7.0 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 21.5 | 12.5 |
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Skills and Knowledge
Employers look for Cooks who have good interpersonal skills, who are reliable and are well presented.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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46%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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46%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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41%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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39%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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39%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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37%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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37%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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37%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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37%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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36%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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36%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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36%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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34%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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34%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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34%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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34%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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32%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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30%
Management of material resourcesProviding the right equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do work.
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30%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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30%
Operation and controlControlling equipment or systems.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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45%
Food productionPlanting, growing, and harvesting food (both plant and animal), including storage and handling.
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38%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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37%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
35%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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33%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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33%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
32%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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30%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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30%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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26%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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22%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
21%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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20%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
-
20%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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19%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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18%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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17%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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17%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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17%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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15%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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50%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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46%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
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46%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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46%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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45%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
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45%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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43%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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43%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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43%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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41%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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39%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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39%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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37%
Multilimb coordinationUse your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
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37%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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37%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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37%
Trunk strengthUse your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
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37%
Control precisionQuickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
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37%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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36%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
34%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
54%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
49%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
47%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
44%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
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43%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
-
42%
Managing payments and ordersMonitoring and controlling resources and the spending of money.
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41%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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40%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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39%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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39%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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39%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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39%
Controlling equipment or machinesOperating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
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38%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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38%
Coaching and developing othersWorking out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.
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35%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
-
33%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
33%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
33%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
32%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
26%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
Interests and demands
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
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95%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
57%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
48%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
48%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
-
33%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
-
19%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
Values
-
67%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
62%
RelationshipsServe and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
-
57%
IndependenceWork alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
48%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
48%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
38%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Demands
-
95%
Spend time standingSpend time standing at work.
-
93%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
89%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
86%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
83%
Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stingsBe exposed to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.
-
81%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
81%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
-
81%
Very hot or cold temperaturesWork in very hot or cold temperatures.
-
80%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
75%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
75%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
-
73%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
69%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
69%
Walking and runningSpend time walking and running.
-
68%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
68%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
68%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
67%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
65%
Exposure to contaminantsBe exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
64%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 35-2014.00 - Cooks, Restaurant.
Links and downloads
Research and reports
The Skills Priority List provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for nearly 800 occupations nationally. Current labour market ratings are available for occupations at a state and territory level.
Downloads
-
Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.