What is a Private Cook?

Job Description & Duties Prepare meals in private homes. Includes personal chefs.

Private Cook Responsibilities

• Direct the operation and organization of kitchens and all food-related activities, including the presentation and serving of food.
• Cool, package, label, and freeze foods for later consumption and provide instructions for reheating.
• Plan and prepare food for parties, holiday meals, luncheons, special functions, and other social events.
• Stock, organize, and clean kitchens and cooking utensils.
• Travel with employers to vacation homes to provide meal preparation at those locations.
• Shop for or order food and kitchen supplies and equipment.

Private Cook Required Skills

Below is a list of the skills most Private Cooks say are important on the job.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Management of Material Resources: Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Types of Private Cook Jobs

• Personal Chef
• Cooking Chef
• Household Cook
• Culinary Worker
• Cook

Private Cook Employment Estimates

There were about 25,000 jobs for Private Cook in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.2% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,300 new jobs for Private Cook by 2026. There will be an estimated 3,700 positions for Private Cook per year.

The states with the most job growth for Private Cook are Nevada, Oregon, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, or North Dakota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Private Cook Average Salary

The average yearly salary of a Private Cook ranges between $25,610 and $62,600.

Private Cooks who work in California, make the highest salaries.

How much do Private Cooks make in different U.S. states?

State	Annual Mean Salary
California	$40,080

Tools & Technologies Used by Private Cooks

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Private Cooks:

• Web browser software
• Email software
• Intuit QuickBooks
• YouTube
• WordPress
• Work scheduling software

Becoming a Private Cook

Are there Private Cooks education requirements?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Private Cook?

Where do Private Cooks Work?

Private Cooks work in the following industries:

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: U.S. Army Europe Images via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

More about our data sources and methodologies.