Cooks (Private Household)
O*NET title: Cooks, Private Household
Prepare meals in private homes. Includes personal chefs.
Also called: Certified Personal Chef (CPC), Cook, Cooking Chef, Culinary Artist, Culinary Chef, Culinary Specialist
Median pay
$47,940
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$36,090 – $91,130
People employed
1,100
Holland code
RSA
Realistic · Social · Artistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 2.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 3.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 4.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 5.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Tight deadlines are common
Cooks (Private Household) pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (1 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What cooks (private household) do
- 01Peel, wash, trim, and cook vegetables and meats, and bake breads and pastries.
- 02Cool, package, label, and freeze foods for later consumption and provide instructions for reheating.
- 03Plan menus according to employers' needs and diet restrictions.
- 04Shop for or order food and kitchen supplies and equipment.
- 05Prepare meals in private homes according to employers' recipes or tastes, handling all meals for the family and possibly for other household staff.
- 06Keep records pertaining to menus, finances, and other business-related issues.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Writing
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Food Production
- Sales and Marketing
- Administration and Management
- Production and Processing
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from cooks (private household)
- Chefs and Head Cooks80% · +30%
- Food Service Managers71% · +45%
- Butchers and Meat Cutters71% · −16%
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers66% · −8%
- Skincare Specialists65% · −5%
Change into cooks (private household)
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Butchers and Meat Cutters73% · $40,140
- Chefs and Head Cooks73% · $62,470
- Baristas72% · $31,200
- Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers67% · $39,390
- Floral Designers66% · $37,360
Majors that lead here
- Culinary Arts/Chef Training
- Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager
- Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.