Career Guide
Restaurant Cook: Pay & How to Get Hired
A restaurant cook prepares and cooks food to order in a kitchen, following recipes and safety rules. In the U.S. they make about $17.98 an hour, and most jobs need little or no experience — you can start as a prep or line cook and learn on the job.
What a Restaurant Cook makes
| Lower pay (25%) | Typical (median) | Higher pay (75%) |
|---|---|---|
| $16.35/hr | $17.98/hr | $21.45/hr |
U.S. average, 2025. Pay is higher in some metros.
Data from
· U.S. Dept. of Labor (ETA) & Minnesota DEEDSee restaurant cook pay near you How much experience you need
Little to no experience needed — many employers train you on the job.
Usually a high school diploma or GED, though some employers don't require one. Many areas ask for a simple food handler card, which takes a couple of hours to get.
In demand — the U.S. Dept. of Labor flags lots of openings
Source: This application incorporates information from O*NET Web Services by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). O*NET Web Services. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
What a Restaurant Cook does
- Cook and season food to order, following recipes or the kitchen's standards.
- Control oven, grill, and fryer temperatures so food is cooked safely.
- Portion, arrange, and garnish plates for servers or customers.
- Keep prep areas, equipment, and surfaces clean and sanitary.
- Check that ingredients are fresh and rotate stock so nothing spoils.
Also called: Line Cook, Prep Cook, Grill Cook, Fry Cook, Breakfast Cook.
Source: This application incorporates information from O*NET Web Services by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). O*NET Web Services. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
How to get hired as a Restaurant Cook
- Apply to restaurants, cafeterias, and hotels — kitchens hire prep and line cooks year-round.
- Get a food handler card if your area requires one — it takes about two hours online.
- Start as a prep or line cook and learn the stations; reliability gets you more hours and better shifts.
- Move up to lead cook or ServSafe manager for higher pay as you gain experience.
The card that helps you earn more
Food Handler card
about $15 · ~2h to earn
A food handler card takes about two hours online and is available in Spanish. Many areas require it before your first shift.
How to get itReady to get hired? Make a free Work Card employers can see.
Build my free Work Card — 2 minOther jobs — pay & how to get in
Frequently asked
How much do restaurant cooks make an hour?+
In the U.S., restaurant cooks make about $17.98 an hour on average, and most earn between $16.35 and $21.45 an hour, per 2025 U.S. Department of Labor data. Busy kitchens and lead-cook roles pay more.
Do you need experience to be a cook?+
No. Most cook jobs need little or no experience — the U.S. Department of Labor lists this work as needing very little preparation, and kitchens usually train new prep and line cooks on the job.
What do you need to work as a cook?+
Usually just a willingness to learn and, in many areas, a food handler card — a short online course (about two hours, available in Spanish). Some kitchens ask for it before your first shift.
How do cooks earn more?+
Start as a prep or line cook, be reliable to earn more hours and better shifts, then move up to lead cook or earn a ServSafe food-manager certification for higher-paying roles.