ANZSCO 3514

Cooks

Overview

EMPLOYED

39,800

PART-TIME SHARE

63%

FEMALE SHARE

58%

MEDIAN WEEKLY EARNINGS

$1,198

MEDIAN AGE

33

ANNUAL EMPLOYMENT GROWTH

100

About this data

Summary

Cooks prepare, season and cook food in dining and catering establishments.

Tasks

  • Examining foodstuffs to ensure quality
  • Regulating temperatures of ovens, grills and other cooking equipment
  • Preparing and cooking food
  • Seasoning food during cooking
  • Portioning food, placing it on plates, and adding gravies, sauces and garnishes
  • Storing food in temperature controlled facilities
  • Preparing food to meet special dietary requirements
  • May plan menus and estimate food requirements
  • May train other kitchen staff and apprentices

ANZSCO Classification

Details

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    Earnings and Hours

    Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)
    Source: Share of workers who work full-time hours: ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2024, four-quarter average, customised report.
    Average full-time hours worked per week: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Median full-time earnings per week and Median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2023, customised report.
    Note: median earnings data have not been produced for some occupations where there is a high standard error, and are published with "N/A" values.
    Earnings and Hours Cooks All Occupations
    Share of workers who work full-time hours 37% 69%
    Average full-time hours worked per week 42 hours 44 hours
    Median full-time earnings per week $1,198 $1,697
    Median hourly earnings $31 $43

    Industries

    Cooks work in industries like:

    Source: Ranked using ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2024, four-quarter average data, custom report.
    Note: industries that comprise less than 5% of an occupation have been suppressed.

    States and territories

    New South Wales

    32.5%

    Victoria

    22.1%

    Queensland

    22.8%

    South Australia

    6.2%

    Tasmania

    2.5%

    Northern Territory

    1.3%

    Australian Capital Territory

    1.3%

    Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, Detailed, November 2024, Jobs and Skills Australia trend data.

    Age and gender

    Age and Gender Profile
    Source: ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2024, four-quarter average, customised report.
    Age and Gender Cooks All Occupations
    Median age 33 years 39 years
    Female share of employment 58% 48%
    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Age Profile (% Share) All Occupations Cooks
    15–19 5.2 7.9
    20–24 9.1 15.3
    25–34 22.7 25.4
    35–44 22.3 18.0
    45–54 20.4 15.6
    55–59 8.8 7.8
    60–64 6.5 6.2
    65 and Over 4.9 3.7

    Education

    Visit

    • Your Career to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Highest Level of Educational Attainment (% Share) All Occupations Cooks
    Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 12.2 3.7
    Bachelor degree 23.2 11.6
    Advanced Diploma/Diploma 11.1 12.9
    Certificate III/IV 19.5 20.4
    Year 12 15.9 22.9
    Year 11 4.0 6.0
    Year 10 and below 9.7 16.7
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      Occupation profiles data

      This file contains data displayed on the Occupation Profile pages.

      Use of data in this file must include the relevant attribution text provided.

      Occupation profiles data - November 2024.xlsx

      occupation_profiles_data_-_november_2024.xlsx947735

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      Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations

      Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) is the skill-based classification system used to categorise occupations in the Australian and New Zealand labour markets. ANZSCO provides a basis for the standardised collection, analysis and dissemination of occupation data. Visit the ABS website to learn how ANZSCO works. Jobs and Skills Australia displays data for occupations that are defined by ANZSCO 2013 Version 1.3.