Cooks, Private Household Salary
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · 1.1K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$47,940
Median hourly
$23
Average annual
$53,680
Typical range
$36,090–$91,130
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Cooks, Private Household is $47,940 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $23 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Prepare meals in private homes. Includes personal chefs..
Most earn between $36,090 and $91,130 a year. There are roughly 1.1K people employed as cooks, private household in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Cooks, Private Household.
- Hourly
- $23.05
- Daily
- $184
- Weekly
- $922
- Bi-weekly
- $1,844
- Monthly
- $3,995
- Annual
- $47,940
$47,940 a year is around the 50th percentile for Cooks, Private Households. The median is $47,940.
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
Related job titles
Employers advertise Cooks, Private Household roles under these titles.
Related occupations
What a Cooks, Private Household does
- Peel, wash, trim, and cook vegetables and meats, and bake breads and pastries.
- Cool, package, label, and freeze foods for later consumption and provide instructions for reheating.
- Plan menus according to employers' needs and diet restrictions.
- Shop for or order food and kitchen supplies and equipment.
- Prepare meals in private homes according to employers' recipes or tastes, handling all meals for the family and possibly for other household staff.
- Keep records pertaining to menus, finances, and other business-related issues.
- Stock, organize, and clean kitchens and cooking utensils.
- Specialize in preparing fancy dishes or food for special diets.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cooks, Private Household make?
- The median annual wage for Cooks, Private Household is $47,940 ($23 per hour). Pay ranges from about $36,090 at the 10th percentile to $91,130 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Cooks, Private Household?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $53,680, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Cooks, Private Households the most?
- New York has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $37,440.
- Is Cooks, Private Household a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 1.1K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Cooks, Private Household do?
- Peel, wash, trim, and cook vegetables and meats, and bake breads and pastries.; Cool, package, label, and freeze foods for later consumption and provide instructions for reheating.; Plan menus according to employers' needs and diet restrictions..