There are currently an estimated 1,231,900 restaurant cooks in the United States. The restaurant cook job market is expected to grow by 11.8% between 2016 and 2026.
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 153,300 restaurant cooks. That number is based on 145,300 additional restaurant cooks, and the retirement of 8,000 existing 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 | 145,650 |
| Texas | 106,830 |
| Florida | 105,470 |
| New York | 68,720 |
| Pennsylvania | 54,080 |
| Illinois | 48,180 |
| North Carolina | 44,850 |
| Michigan | 37,090 |
| Georgia | 36,860 |
| Ohio | 36,190 |
| Colorado | 31,790 |
| Virginia | 31,670 |
| Washington | 30,090 |
| Massachusetts | 28,630 |
| Minnesota | 28,240 |
| Indiana | 26,050 |
| Missouri | 25,860 |
| Arizona | 25,240 |
| Wisconsin | 23,290 |
| South Carolina | 23,180 |
| Tennessee | 22,640 |
| Nevada | 22,530 |
| Oregon | 22,070 |
| New Jersey | 21,100 |
| Kentucky | 19,050 |
| Maryland | 17,980 |
| Louisiana | 16,220 |
| Alabama | 15,420 |
| Oklahoma | 15,320 |
| Connecticut | 13,850 |
| Iowa | 11,210 |
| Kansas | 10,460 |
| Arkansas | 10,260 |
| Mississippi | 10,250 |
| Hawaii | 9,150 |
| Utah | 8,920 |
| New Mexico | 8,120 |
| Puerto Rico | 6,670 |
| Idaho | 6,600 |
| West Virginia | 6,390 |
| New Hampshire | 6,230 |
| Nebraska | 6,180 |
| District of Columbia | 6,040 |
| Montana | 5,740 |
| Maine | 5,320 |
| Rhode Island | 5,290 |
| Delaware | 4,140 |
| Wyoming | 2,910 |
| North Dakota | 2,700 |
| Vermont | 2,550 |
| South Dakota | 2,000 |
| Alaska | 1,870 |
| Guam | 870 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | 710 |