About the job
Cooks prepare and cook a wide variety of foods. They are employed in restaurants, hotels, hospitals and other health care institutions, central food commissaries, educational institutions and other establishments. Cooks are also employed aboard ships and at construction and logging campsites.
- Prepare and cook complete meals or individual dishes and foods.
- Prepare and cook special meals for patients as instructed by dietitian or chef.
- Schedule and supervise kitchen helpers.
- Oversee kitchen operations.
- Maintain inventory and records of food, supplies and equipment.
- May set up and oversee buffets.
- May clean kitchen and work area.
- May plan menus, determine size of food portions, estimate food requirements and costs, and monitor and order supplies.
- May hire and train kitchen staff.
Cooks may specialize in preparing and cooking ethnic cuisine or special dishes.
- apprentice cook
- assistant cook
- banquet cook
- cafeteria cook
- camp cook
- caterer cook
- cook
- line cook
- ship's cook
- short order cook
This work requires initiative, imagination, and creativity. Knowledge of basic nutrition and cooking methods is needed. You should understand and apply the rules of hygiene, sanitation, and occupational safety. Organization, time management, and the ability to perform under pressure are important. You must have good physical health, physical stamina, and manual dexterity. You will be required to establish good working relationships with a variety of co-workers and customers and display a professional attitude.
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a three-year apprenticeship program for cooks or completion of college or other program in cooking or several years of commercial cooking experience are required.
- Trade certification is available, but voluntary, in Nova Scotia.
- Red Seal Endorsement (RSE) is also available to qualified cooks upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
These jobs are heavily influenced by tourism activity; therefore, employment levels tend to vary throughout the year and peak in the summer months. A high rate of turnover in these jobs generates numerous job openings for people seeking employment. Earnings can vary significantly depending upon the skills and training of the individual, and the type of establishment will have a major impact on the wages paid. There is mobility among the various types of cooks in this group. Progression to supervisory or more senior positions, such as chef, is possible with experience and training.
Labour Market Information
The employment outlook over the next few years for this occupational group is “good”, which indicates the chances of a qualified individual finding work is better than average when compared to other occupations in Nova Scotia. This is a fairly large occupation in Nova Scotia so job opportunities occur fairly regularly. The number employed in this occupation is expected to grow slightly over the next few years, which should provide some additional opportunities for employment. With a large percent of workers being 55 years of age and older, retirements are expected to be a key contributor to employment opportunities over the coming years. Cooks may either be working full-time or part-time hours. Furthermore, the jobs are typically permanent positions. With employment conditions being somewhat seasonal, periods of downtime or layoff throughout the year affect some workers.
The median employment income for 37% of Cooks who worked full-time, year-round in 2015 was $27,186. Across all occupations in Nova Scotia, 59% of those who worked full-time year round had a median employment income of $43,600.
(Source: 2016 Census)
| Occupation | Estimated employment in 2018 | Estimated change in employment between 2017 and 2019 | Estimated openings due to growth and retirements, 2017-2019 | Estimated rate of unemployment in 2018 | Estimated hourly earnings in 2015 (learn more) | Estimated annual earnings in 2015 |
| Cooks | 5,550 | Weak growth | 300 | Moderate | Minimum: $11.00 Median: $12.31 Maximum: $16.92 | Minimum: $3,669 Median: $17,935 Maximum: $41,583 |
| Occupations in Sales and Service | 102,605 | Decline slightly | 5,260 | Moderate | Minimum: $10.70 Median: $12.50 Maximum: $21.17 | Minimum: $2,949 Median: $16,629 Maximum: $45,086 |
| Cooks | Compared to: Occupations in Sales and Service | |
| Percent employed full-time | 69% | 59% |
| Percent self-employed | 1% | 6% |
| Area of Employment | Cooks | Compared to: All NS Occupations | ||
| % Employed | Median Annual Income | % Employed | Median Annual Income | |
| Southern | 14% | $18,650 | 12% | $30,581 |
| Northern | 17% | $16,429 | 16% | $33,660 |
| Cape Breton | 17% | $14,855 | 13% | $32,974 |
| Halifax | 42% | $18,047 | 47% | $41,209 |
| Annapolis Valley | 10% | $14,342 | 13% | $32,958 |
| Age | Cooks | Compared to: All Sales and Service |
| % Employed | % Employed | |
| 15-24 | 23% | x |
| 25-34 | 16% | 36% |
| 35-44 | 17% | 29% |
| 45-54 | 20% | x |
| 55-64 | 21% | 21% |
| 65+ | 3% | x |
| Median Age | 36 | 37 |
| Gender | Cooks | Compared to: Occupations in Sales and Service |
| % Employed | % Employed | |
| Female | 49% | 60% |
| Male | 51% | 40% |
| Education | Cooks | Compared to: All Sales and Service | ||
| % Employed | Median Annual Income | % Employed | Median Annual Income | |
| Less than high school | 23.5% | $27,222 | 18.8% | $9,486 |
| High school | 40.5% | $21,162 | 40.4% | $12,982 |
| Trades certificate | 10.8% | $37,415 | 8.0% | $18,797 |
| College certificate or diploma | 18.5% | $31,050 | 19.9% | $19,514 |
| University certificate or diploma | 1.6% | x | 1.6% | $18,279 |
| Bachelor's degree | 4.6% | $26,890 | 10.0% | $20,807 |
| University advanced certificate or diploma | 0.3% | x | 0.5% | $15,716 |
| Master's degree | N/A | x | 0.8% | $20,769 |
| Doctorate | 0.2% | x | 0.0% | $17,318 |
| Medicine, dentistry, veterinary, optometry | N/A | x | 0.1% | $17,368 |
| Total | 100% | 100% | ||
Hourly earnings data are from the Labour Force Survey by Statistics Canada. Data are not available for all occupations. Hourly earnings are calculated based on usual hours worked per week. This is how an annual salary, for instance, gets converted to an hourly rate. The data include full and part-time workers along with new and experienced workers. Self-employed workers are excluded.
Annual employment income data reported in the Work Prospects section, are from the 2011 National Household Survey by Statistics Canada. Much of the data (around 70%) came directly from tax records. The data relates to the year 2010 and includes total wages and salaries and net income from self-employment.
Employment Requirements & Contacts
Training Paths & Education
This instructional program class comprises any program that defines the prescribed requirements, specified by the appropriate jurisdiction, for the completion of and graduation from a secondary school program of academic subject matter offered for adult learners outside of the regular secondary school program. This does not include adult compensatory education programs resulting in completion of a high school equivalency certificate or diploma.
This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals to serve under the supervision of chefs and other food service professionals as kitchen support staff and commercial food preparation workers. These programs include courses in kitchen organization and operations, sanitation and quality control, basic food preparation and cooking skills, kitchen and kitchen equipment maintenance, and quantity food measurement and monitoring.