Jobs Similar to Cooks (Private Household)
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to cooks (private household), according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Cooks (Restaurant), Butchers and Meat Cutters and Cooks (Institution and Cafeteria).
Cooks (Private Household): $47,940 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Cooks (Private Household)) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cooks, RestaurantSame group | 74% | $37,390−22% | High school |
| 2 | Butchers and Meat Cutters | 74% | $40,140−16% | High school |
| 3 | Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaSame group | 72% | $37,450−22% | High school |
| 4 | Bartenders | 72% | $34,340−28% | High school |
| 5 | Cooks, Fast FoodSame group | 72% | $30,890−36% | High school |
| 6 | Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | 72% | $35,360−26% | High school |
| 7 | Cooks, Short OrderSame group | 72% | $35,880−25% | High school |
| 8 | Floral Designers | 71% | $37,360−22% | High school |
| 9 | Chefs and Head Cooks | 70% | $62,470+30% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | 70% | $33,980−29% | High school |
| 11 | Baristas | 70% | $31,200Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 12 | Food Preparation WorkersSame group | 69% | $35,320−26% | High school |
| 13 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | 69% | $31,200−35% | High school |
| 14 | Stockers and Order Fillers | 69% | $37,330−22% | High school |
| 15 | Driver/Sales Workers | 68% | $38,770−19% | High school |
| 16 | Waiters and Waitresses | 67% | $35,230−27% | High school |
| 17 | Food Service Managers | 67% | $69,390+45% | High school |
| 18 | Bakers | 67% | $37,160−22% | High school |
| 19 | Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | 67% | $39,390−18% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | 66% | $35,790−25% | Training or associate |
- 1Cooks, Restaurant
74% similar · $37,390 (−22%) · High school · Same group
- 2Butchers and Meat Cutters
74% similar · $40,140 (−16%) · High school
- 3Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
72% similar · $37,450 (−22%) · High school · Same group
- 4Bartenders
72% similar · $34,340 (−28%) · High school
- 5Cooks, Fast Food
72% similar · $30,890 (−36%) · High school · Same group
- 6Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
72% similar · $35,360 (−26%) · High school
- 7Cooks, Short Order
72% similar · $35,880 (−25%) · High school · Same group
- 8Floral Designers
71% similar · $37,360 (−22%) · High school
- 9Chefs and Head Cooks
70% similar · $62,470 (+30%) · Training or associate
- 10Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
70% similar · $33,980 (−29%) · High school
- 11Baristas
70% similar · $31,200 (broader group) · High school
- 12Food Preparation Workers
69% similar · $35,320 (−26%) · High school · Same group
- 13Fast Food and Counter Workers
69% similar · $31,200 (−35%) · High school
- 14Stockers and Order Fillers
69% similar · $37,330 (−22%) · High school
- 15Driver/Sales Workers
68% similar · $38,770 (−19%) · High school
- 16Waiters and Waitresses
67% similar · $35,230 (−27%) · High school
- 17Food Service Managers
67% similar · $69,390 (+45%) · High school
- 18Bakers
67% similar · $37,160 (−22%) · High school
- 19Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
67% similar · $39,390 (−18%) · Training or associate
- 20Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
66% similar · $35,790 (−25%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than cooks (private household).
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for cooks (private household) also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where cooks (private household) is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like cooks (private household)
What jobs are most similar to cooks (private household)?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Cooks (Restaurant) (74% similar), Butchers and Meat Cutters (74% similar), Cooks (Institution and Cafeteria) (72% similar), Bartenders (72% similar) and Cooks (Fast Food) (72% similar).
Which jobs like cooks (private household) pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Food Service Managers ($69,390, +45%; usually a high school diploma) and Chefs and Head Cooks ($62,470, +30%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with cooks (private household) ($47,940). Without more preparation than cooks (private household) usually need: Food Service Managers and Chefs and Head Cooks.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.