Fast-food cooks: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more
Fast-food cooks prepare a limited selection of menu items in fast-food restaurants. They cook and package food, such as hamburgers and fried chicken, to be kept warm until served. For more information on workers who prepare and serve items in fast-food restaurants, see the profiles on food preparation workers and food and beverage serving and related workers.
- Education Required
- Vocational cooking schools, professional culinary institutes, and some colleges offer culinary programs for aspiring cooks. These programs generally last from a few months to 2 years and may offer courses in advanced cooking techniques, international cuisines, and various cooking styles. To enter these programs, candidates may be required to have a high school diploma or equivalent. Depending on the type and length of the program, graduates generally qualify for entry-level positions as a restaurant cook.
- Training Required
- Most cooks learn their skills through on-the-job training, usually lasting a few weeks. Trainees generally first learn kitchen basics and workplace safety and then learn how to handle and cook food.
- Job Outlook
-
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 6% (As fast as average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.) - Advancement
- The American Culinary Federation certifies chefs, personal chefs, pastry chefs, and culinary administrators, among others. For cooks seeking advancement to higher level chef positions, certification can show accomplishment and lead to higher paying positions.
- Median pay: How much do Cooks make?
- $22,850 Annual Salary
- $10.99 per hour
Careers for Cooks
- Banquet cooks
- Breakfast cooks
- Cafeteria cooks
- Camp cooks
- Certified personal chefs
- Chefs de partie
- Falafel cart cooks
- Fast food fry cooks
- Fraternity house cooks
- Fry cooks
- Fryline attendants
- Galley cooks
- Griddle attendants
- Griddle cooks
- Grill cooks
- Institution and cafeteria cooks
- Institutional cooks
- Line cooks
- Mess cooks
- Personal chefs
- Personal cooks
- Private chefs
- Private household cooks
- Restaurant cooks
- Sauciers
- School cooks
- Short order fry cooks
- Short-order cooks
- Snack bar cooks
- Specialty cooks
- Vegetable cooks