63200 – Cooks

Lead statement

Cooks prepare and cook a wide variety of foods. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Main 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.

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Completion of a three-year apprenticeship program for cooks orcompletion of college or other program in cooking or food safety orseveral 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.

Example job titles

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

Wages (per hour)

Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.