35 Series · SOC 35-2013
Cooks, Private Household Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $47,940
- Median / year
- $91,130
- Top 10% earn
- +5.1%
- Growth '23–'33
- 1,100
- US workers
Cooks, Private Household earn a median of $47,940 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $47,940, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $36,090 (10th percentile) to $91,130 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 1,100 US workers. New York pays the most ($37,440), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Cooks, Private Household earn a median of $47,940, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 27% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Food Preparation and Serving Related, it ranks #2 of 17 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 5.1% by 2033.
- $47,940
- Median annual wage
- Top 73%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #2 of 17
- in Food Preparation and Serving Related
- 2.5×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: New York at $37,440. Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Cooks, Private Household (SOC 35-2013) pays a national median of $47,940 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $36,090 at the 10th percentile to $91,130 at the 90th, with a mean of $53,680 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 1,100 Americans work in this occupation across 1 reporting states and 0 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +5.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 5,300 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Postsecondary nondegree award, with less than 5 years of prior experience generally required. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.6 per 100,000 and injury rate of 2.4 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. New York pays the highest state median at $37,440, which is 22% below the national figure. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$47,940
per year
Median Hourly
$23.05/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$53,680
average
Employment
1,100
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Cooks, Private Household pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$47,940 Bottom 27% higher than 27% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 35-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Cooks, Private Household; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 17 35-series occupations with growth data, Cooks, Private Household sits on the faster-growing side at +5.1% growth and $47,940 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+5.1%
About average
Annual Openings
5,300
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Work Experience
Less than 5 years
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.6/100K
Injury Rate
2.4/100
Danger Index
9.9/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Cooks, Private Household roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Peel, wash, trim, and cook vegetables and meats, and bake breads and pastries.
- ▸ Cool, package, label, and freeze foods for later consumption and provide instructions for reheating.
- ▸ Plan menus according to employers' needs and diet restrictions.
- ▸ Shop for or order food and kitchen supplies and equipment.
- ▸ Prepare meals in private homes according to employers' recipes or tastes, handling all meals for the family and possibly for other household staff.
- ▸ Keep records pertaining to menus, finances, and other business-related issues.
- ▸ Stock, organize, and clean kitchens and cooking utensils.
- ▸ Direct the operation and organization of kitchens and all food-related activities, including the presentation and serving of food.
- ▸ Specialize in preparing fancy dishes or food for special diets.
- ▸ Plan and prepare food for parties, holiday meals, luncheons, special functions, and other social events.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$36,090
25th Percentile
$40,630
Median
$47,940
75th Percentile
$55,450
90th Percentile
$91,130
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 1 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $37,440 | 22% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 35 (food preparation and serving) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with this data
How to use Cooks, Private Household pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $55,450/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: New York leads at $37,440/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.