Cooks
Cooks prepare, season and cook food in dining and catering establishments.
Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26
ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 3514.More about our sources: How we check our factsWhat they do
The main tasks of this occupation, from the national occupation standard.
Source: JSA occupation profile
Task list from the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile for ANZSCO 3514 (ANZSCO task statements).More about our sources: How we check our factsThe outlook
Room for 5,000 more people in cooks by 2035 ▲
The field shrank 10.2% in the year to February 2026, losing about 3,500 workers. Most of the jobs are in NSW and VIC, with QLD third.
Source: JSA · ABS, 2025-26
ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 3514.More about our sources: How we check our factsGetting in
There is no single way in. 33% trained through VET, 15% hold a degree.
Both paths are common in this field. These are the nationally recognised courses mapped to this occupation, with the number of registered training providers that offer each one.
Source: JSA · training.gov.au
Education split: JSA (Jobs and Skills Australia) occupation profile, using ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Census data, ANZSCO 3514. Qualification mapping and provider counts: training.gov.au, the national register of vocational education, October 2026. Listed providers are current registered training providers (private providers and TAFE institutes).More about our sources: How we check our factsNationally recognised training · most offered first
Licensed work: several of these courses lead to work that also needs a state or territory licence. Training is the first step; licensing rules are set by each state.
See all 4 mapped courses
Providers are shown in A-Z order on each course page. A listing is not a recommendation.
Jobs open right now
31k Australians do this work. See who is hiring this month.
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Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26
State chart shows people employed, not current job ads. ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 3514.More about our sources: How we check our factsPeople employed by state, 2025-26
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