Cook salary in Australia
ANZSCO occupation: Cooks
Last reviewed June 2026
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) · 2025 data. Annual figure derived from median weekly earnings × 52.
See your take-home pay on $74,000 →At a glance
- People employed
- 30,700
- Annual employment growth
- -3,500/yr
- Median age
- 36 yrs
- Works part-time
- 55%
- Female share
- 52%
- Main industry
- Retail Trade
What does a cook do?
Cooks prepare, season and cook food in dining and catering establishments.
May train other kitchen staff and apprentices
How to become a cook
Typical education for this occupation, and courses that lead to it.
Education held by people in this role
Where cooks are employed
Share of workers by state and territory (employment distribution, not pay).
Cook jobs
Related occupations
Similar occupations
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook earn in Australia?
The median cook earns $74,464 per year ($1,432 per week, or about $37/hour), based on Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) (2025).
What qualifications do you need to be a cook?
Most cooks hold a Certificate III or IV (20.4% of workers). Pathways vary — see typical courses above.
Is cook a job in demand in Australia?
Around 30,700 cooks are employed in Australia. Employment is changing by about -3,500 workers per year.
Earnings, employment and education data: Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) (2025). Used under CC BY 4.0. Annual figures derived from median weekly earnings × 52. Figures are estimates for guidance only.
