Headline risk
12%
Low RiskCooks, private household
AI displacement pressure score for United States AI Work Index, combining global AI task overlap with local wages, employment trends, and demand signals.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
Prepare meals in private homes. Includes personal chefs.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 0% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 44,530
Employment 2024
34.2K
Projected Change (2024–34)
5.1%
Openings (2024–34)
5.3K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Overall employment of cooks is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Peel, wash, trim, and cook vegetables and meats, and bake breads and pastries. AI use: 0%
- 2. Cool, package, label, and freeze foods for later consumption and provide instructions for reheating. AI use: 0%
- 3. Plan menus according to employers' needs and diet restrictions. AI use: 0%
- 4. Shop for or order food and kitchen supplies and equipment. AI use: 0%
- 5. Keep records pertaining to menus, finances, and other business-related issues. AI use: 0%
- 6. Stock, organize, and clean kitchens and cooking utensils. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 34.7 · 2.1M employed
Under 25: 30% · 25–54: 53% · 55+: 17%
Related
No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Data quality
Employment data available
Narrative & sources
Cooks season and prepare foods, including soups, salads, entrees, and desserts.
Cooks work in restaurants, schools, hospitals, private households, and other places where food is prepared and served. Their work hours may include early mornings, late evenings, holidays, and weekends. Most cooks work full time, although part-time work is common.
Cooks typically learn their skills through on-the-job training and related work experience. Although no formal education is required, some cooks attend culinary school.
The median hourly wage for cooks was $17.19 in May 2024.
Overall employment of cooks is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
Important context
This score measures structural AI displacement pressure, not actual job losses. Local wages and demand data are specific to United States AI Work Index; the underlying AI task overlap analysis is consistent across all countries.