Cooks, Private Household Salary
Cooks, Private Household earn a median $47,940 a year nationally. Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
What cooks, private household do
Prepare meals in private homes.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.1% (faster than average)
- Openings per year
- 5,000
- Self-employed
- 80%
Employment of cooks, private household is projected to grow 5.1% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 5,000 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cooks, Private Household take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,573
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,972
- Medicare (1.45%)$695
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$40,700
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,090 | $17.35 | $31,178 |
| 25th percentile | $40,630 | $19.53 | $34,826 |
| Median (50th) | $47,940 | $23.05 | $40,700 |
| 75th percentile | $55,450 | $26.66 | $46,734 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,130 | $43.81 | $72,940 |
Cooks, Private Household salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $37,440 | — | $30,838 | $36,310 – $42,860 | 140 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooks, All Other | $37,690 | No formal educational credential | +5.2% |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,450 | No formal educational credential | +2.8% |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,390 | No formal educational credential | +12.1% |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,880 | No formal educational credential | -5.2% |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,890 | No formal educational credential | +0.6% |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,320 | No formal educational credential | -3.0% |
| First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,080 | High school diploma or equivalent | +5.4% |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,840 | No formal educational credential | +5.5% |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,360 | No formal educational credential | +4.5% |
| Waiter and Waitress | $35,230 | No formal educational credential | +2.0% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, private household make?
The national median salary for cooks, private household is $47,940 a year ($23.05 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,090 and the top 10% earn over $91,130. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays cooks, private household the most?
New York has the highest median pay at $37,440.
How many cooks, private household are there in the U.S.?
About 1,100 people work as cooks, private household nationwide.