Food preparation and hospitality trades

How to become a Cook

Official title: Cooks

Also called: Head cook, Chief cook, Pastry cook, Cook-cleaner, Cook-general, Cook-manager, Cook-steward, Cook manager, Cook in charge, Cook-companion, Cook-supervisor, Cook supervisor

Cooks prepare, season and cook food, often using pre-prepared ingredients, in clubs, private households, fast food outlets, shops selling food cooked on the premises and the catering departments and canteens of other establishments.

Main tasks

Requisitions or purchases foodstuffs and checks quality
Plans meals, prepares, seasons and cooks foodstuffs
Cooks and sells a range of meals, such as fish and chips, over the counter
Plans and co-ordinates kitchen work such as fetching, clearing and cleaning of equipment and utensils

How to become one

There are no formal academic requirements. Training is provided off and on-the-job. NVQs/ SVQs in Food Preparation and Cooking are available at levels 1, 2 and 3. Apprenticeships are also available.

Pay · Outlook

Median full-time pay: £24,228 a year The middle half earn £20,334 to £27,831.
About 72,900 people work in this job now, and about 73,000 are projected by 2035. (+0.2%)

Questions people ask

How do I become a Cook?

There are no formal academic requirements. Training is provided off and on-the-job. NVQs/ SVQs in Food Preparation and Cooking are available at levels 1, 2 and 3. Apprenticeships are also available.

How much does a Cook earn in the UK?

Median full-time pay is £24,228 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £20,334 to £27,831.

Is a Cook a growing career in the UK?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 72,900 people now and 73,000 later (Department for Education).

Do you need a degree to become a Cook?

Usually not. Only 8% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Sources

Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03