We surveyed 13,620 restaurant cooks to better understand the work environment and required skills of a typical restaurant cook. Here are the results.

How much intelligence is required as a restaurant cook?

Low

High

Working as a restaurant cook typically doesn’t require the use of high levels of intelligence in daily tasks.

Can I learn to become a restaurant cook?

Intrinsic Talent

Acquired Talent

A career as a restaurant cook typically depends predominantly on qualities you can gain through experience, with a small aspect of skills you are born with.

Is it easy to get a job as a restaurant cook?

Easy

Hard

It’s typically not very difficult to find a job as a restaurant cook. If you’re curious about the numbers, check out the job market for restaurant cooks.

Info

Do restaurant cooks work full-time or part-time?

53% of restaurant cooks work in full-time roles while 47% work part-time.

Is being a restaurant cook stressful?

Low

High

Stress is very commonplace for restaurant cooks, contributing negatively towards career satisfaction.

Is being organized important as a restaurant cook?

Low

High

Organization is considered a very important trait for restaurant cooks, and is critical to success in the field.

How competitive is the workplace for restaurant cooks?

Low

High

Competition at work is not common for restaurant cooks.

Does being a restaurant cook require frequent time pressure to complete tasks?

Low

High

Restaurant cooks will see frequent time pressure on the job, likely contributing to an occasionally stressful work environment.

Are restaurant cooks allowed to express themselves creatively?

Low

High

Restaurant cooks rarely get a chance to express themselves creatively.

Do restaurant cooks have control over the direction of their work?

Low

High

Restaurant cooks tend to have a set and inflexible work schedule that they are unable to deviate from too much.

Is being a restaurant cook physically demanding?

Low

High

Being a restaurant cook requires significant physical work, and is not a career for those unable to perform continuous and/or strenuous physical activity.

Are restaurant cooks exposed to a wide variety of work?

Low

High

While sometimes repetitive, restaurant cooks tend to have opportunities for variety in their work.

Does being a restaurant cook require attention to detail?

Low

High

As in many careers, attention to detail is quite helpful for restaurant cooks.

Does being a good restaurant cook require compassion and empathy?

Low

High

The ability to be compassion and empathetic isn't considered fundamental to success as a restaurant cook.