How to become a Private Household Cook
Official title: Cooks, Private Household
Also called: Certified Personal Chef (CPC), Personal Chef, Personal Private Chef, Private Chef
Prepare meals in private homes. Includes personal chefs.
Main tasks
- 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.
- Direct the operation and organization of kitchens and all food-related activities, including the presentation and serving of food.
How to become one
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.
Typical education to start: Postsecondary nondegree award
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- Certificate or associate's degree: Postsecondary nondegree award. Programs such as Culinary Arts/Chef Training; Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager; Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $47,940 a year The middle half earn $40,630 to $55,450.
- About 35,400 people work in this job now, and about 37,200 are projected by 2035. (+5.1%)
- People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Private Household Cook?
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.
How much does a Private Household Cook earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $47,940 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $40,630 to $55,450.
Is a Private Household Cook a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2035, from about 35,400 to about 37,200 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Private Household Cook?
Usually not. Only 7% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Will AI change the work of a Private Household Cook?
People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.