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Job outlook for cooks in the United States
Cook job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected cook job growth rate is 16% from 2018-2028.
About 419,300 new jobs for cooks are projected over the next decade.
Cook salaries have increased 19% for cooks in the last 5 years.
There are over 1,802,011 cooks currently employed in the United States.
There are 184,818 active cook job openings in the US.
The average cook salary is $31,803.
Are cook jobs in demand?
Yes, cook jobs are in demand. Cook demand is projected to grow 16% from 2018 to 2028.
Cook job and salary trends over time
Compare the number of cook jobs and the average cook salary over time.
Cook jobs over time
Cook job growth rate over time
Year  | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,802,011 | 0.53% |
| 2020 | 1,777,629 | 0.53% |
| 2019 | 2,174,871 | 0.65% |
| 2018 | 2,192,432 | 0.66% |
| 2017 | 2,116,465 | 0.64% |
Average cook salary over time
Cook salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,803 | $15.29 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $30,688 | $14.75 | +4.7% |
| 2023 | $29,297 | $14.08 | +5.4% |
| 2022 | $27,806 | $13.37 | +4.3% |
| 2021 | $26,658 | $12.82 | +4.5% |
Cook jobs by state
Most common states for cooks
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 752 | 25% |
| 2 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,373 | 24% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 177 | 24% |
| 4 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 1,518 | 23% |
| 5 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 662 | 23% |
| 6 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,542 | 22% |
| 7 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,469 | 22% |
| 8 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,355 | 22% |
| 9 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 4,400 | 21% |
| 10 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,093 | 20% |
| 11 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 881 | 20% |
| 12 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 801 | 20% |
| 13 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 601 | 20% |
| 14 | Texas | 28,304,596 | 5,425 | 19% |
| 15 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,925 | 19% |
| 16 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,858 | 18% |
| 17 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 907 | 18% |
| 18 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 560 | 18% |
| 19 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 371 | 18% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 105 | 18% |
Most common cities for cooks
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orlando | 279 | 101% | $28,807 |
| 2 | Fort Lauderdale | 166 | 93% | $28,759 |
| 3 | Miami | 257 | 57% | $28,761 |
| 4 | Scottsdale | 141 | 57% | $30,433 |
| 5 | Austin | 454 | 48% | $25,997 |
| 6 | Tampa | 170 | 45% | $28,752 |
| 7 | Atlanta | 171 | 36% | $26,664 |
| 8 | Boston | 140 | 21% | $36,587 |
| 9 | Mesa | 103 | 21% | $30,418 |
| 10 | Phoenix | 286 | 18% | $30,519 |
| 11 | Indianapolis | 142 | 17% | $26,649 |
| 12 | Denver | 110 | 16% | $31,009 |
| 13 | Dallas | 185 | 14% | $25,094 |
| 14 | Fort Worth | 118 | 14% | $25,176 |
| 15 | San Diego | 137 | 10% | $35,413 |
| 16 | San Antonio | 102 | 7% | $26,288 |
| 17 | Chicago | 165 | 6% | $31,331 |
| 18 | Houston | 105 | 5% | $25,673 |
| 19 | Los Angeles | 165 | 4% | $35,775 |
| 20 | New York | 148 | 2% | $36,239 |