There are currently an estimated 1,460,200 restaurant cooks in the United States. The restaurant cook job market is expected to grow by 14.9% between 2024 and 2034.

How employable are restaurant cooks?

CareerExplorer rates restaurant cooks with an A+ employability rating, meaning this career should provide great employment opportunities for the foreseeable future. Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will need 217,000 restaurant cooks.

What’s the supply of restaurant cooks?

The restaurant cook industry is concentrated in California, Texas, Florida

Restaurant Cook job market by state

State Name Employed Restaurant Cooks
California 152,250
Texas 126,620
Florida 124,040
New York 71,530
Pennsylvania 54,100
Illinois 53,540
North Carolina 50,150
Ohio 46,910
Georgia 46,350
Virginia 40,310
Michigan 39,100
Washington 35,140
Arizona 30,870
Colorado 30,600
Massachusetts 29,570
New Jersey 28,800
Tennessee 28,220
Nevada 27,250
Indiana 26,960
Minnesota 26,080
Missouri 25,990
South Carolina 25,890
Wisconsin 25,410
Oregon 21,550
Maryland 17,690
Oklahoma 17,050
Alabama 16,260
Louisiana 14,910
Connecticut 14,830
Kentucky 13,510
Iowa 12,270
Kansas 11,620
Arkansas 11,270
Hawaii 11,090
Mississippi 10,770
Utah 10,520
Idaho 8,130
New Mexico 7,810
District of Columbia 7,720
Montana 7,580
New Hampshire 7,190
Rhode Island 6,950
West Virginia 6,450
Delaware 5,280
Maine 5,130
Nebraska 4,750
North Dakota 4,490
Wyoming 2,710
Vermont 2,360
Alaska 2,350
South Dakota 1,890