Canada Limited

Cooks

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. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Employment Outlooks

Economic Region Outlooks

Select your region(s)

Choose up to 3 regions to see employment outlooks. This occupation has data for 72 economic regions.

Salary Information

National wage data for this occupation

Entry-level

CA$15.00

/hr

Typical

CA$18.00

/hr

Experienced

CA$25.00

/hr

Average: CA$19.19/hr

57.4% of workers in this occupation receive non-wage benefits

Source: Job Bank Canada. Wages may vary by region and experience.

Examples

Illustrative Examples

apprentice cook
cook
dietary cook
first cook
grill cook
hospital cook
institutional cook
journeyman/woman cook
licensed cook
line cook
second cook
short order cook

All Examples

cafeteria cook
apprentice cook
assistant cook
banquet cook
breakfast cook
broiler cook
camp cook
caterer cook
construction camp cook
cook
cook - Canadian Armed Forces
diet kitchen cook
dietary cook
domestic cook
ethnic food cook
first cook
fishing and merchant vessel cook
grill cook
hospital cook
institutional cook
journeyman/woman cook
kosher foods cook
licensed cook
line cook
logging camp cook
mess cook
pastry cook
pizza cook
railway cook
restaurant cook
second cook
ship's cook
short order cook
small establishment cook
special diet cook
special order cook - hospital
therapeutic diet cook
third cook

Main Duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:
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.

Requirements

Employment Requirements

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 food safety or several years of commercial cooking experience may be required.
Trade certification is available, but voluntary, in all provinces and territories.
Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified cooks upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.