Cooks, All Other
Cooks, All Other includes culinary professionals not classified in other cooking categories. They prepare food in kitchens across restaurants, catering companies, institutional facilities, and other food service settings. Work involves managing ingredients, cooking techniques, food safety, and kitchen operations.
Four short assessments and your background, scored against cooks, all other and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
A day in the work
A typical week includes preparing ingredients, cooking meals according to recipes and orders, plating dishes, and maintaining kitchen cleanliness and organization. Cooks track inventory, coordinate with other kitchen staff, and respond to customer orders during service hours. Shifts often include standing for long periods in fast-paced environments, working evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Who this work suits
You do well in this role if you're detail-oriented, work efficiently under pressure, and take pride in food quality. You benefit from physical stamina, reliable time management, and the ability to follow procedures while adapting to busy kitchen demands.
What it takes
Who is hiring
Openings right now
- Cook · CommonSpirit Health · Stockton, San Joaquin County · $37,963–$37,963
- COOK (BOWLING CENTER) · Air Combat Command · Fort Eustis, Virginia · $20.14–$20.14
- Cook · Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs · Owyhee, Nevada · $25.04–$29.2
- Cook · Commander, Navy Installations Command · Newport, Rhode Island · $22.06–$22.06
- Cook NA-04 · United States Army Installation Management Command · Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington · $20.82–$24.27
- Cook · Veterans Health Administration · Prescott, Arizona · $27.84–$32.48
- VCS Cook- Orlando FL · Veterans Health Administration · Orlando, Florida · $21.69–$21.69
- Cook · Air Force Global Strike Command · Malmstrom AFB, Montana · $19.96–$23.29
Openings are read from employers’ own career pages and public job boards and change daily. Search all openings (free account) to filter by distance, pay and how well you qualify.
Pay by state
| State | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $65,540 | $69,570 | $69,580 | — |
| Washington | $48,970 | $52,510 | $53,950 | 140 |
| Nevada | $43,870 | $51,220 | $57,060 | 320 |
| New Jersey | $38,850 | $46,080 | $49,370 | 280 |
| Indiana | $39,650 | $44,290 | $54,810 | 30 |
| North Dakota | $43,680 | $44,190 | $46,260 | 60 |
| Missouri | $34,950 | $43,990 | $58,240 | 70 |
| Colorado | $37,510 | $43,490 | $49,780 | 100 |
| New York | $37,730 | $43,000 | $48,360 | 1,090 |
| Georgia | $34,030 | $42,960 | $42,960 | 340 |
| California | $38,350 | $42,860 | $46,030 | 3,990 |
| Montana | $34,560 | $42,640 | $45,930 | 200 |
All 33 states
Training
Aptly members see WIOA-approved programs, colleges and certificates near them, with completion and earnings data, on every Path plan.
Related occupations
Four short assessments and your background, scored against cooks, all other and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
O*NET-SOC 35-2019.00 · O*NET OnLine. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, annual, U.S. Employment counts are national.