Chicago Cook Jobs Overview
Whether people are on vacation, celebrating a special occasion, or just don't want to deal with dishes for the night, hungry diners will always look for delicious places to eat outside the home. Those restaurants and eateries rely on competent individuals to fill cook jobs and deliver consistently tasty meals to customers.
As a cook, your day-to-day duties go far beyond preparing and cooking food. You'll mix ingredients, weigh and measure portions, operate cooking equipment, store foods, and ensure that food is served fresh. Additionally, you'll promote high sanitation standards by cleaning work areas, utensils, dishes, and equipment.
Most cooks work directly for restaurants, diners, cafeterias, and other eateries. Some work for private households, cruise ships, and short order businesses. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), cooking jobs are expected to increase by 10% over the next decade. As a cook, you'll have plenty of room for advancement. In fact, many cooks eventually work their way up to head cook, kitchen supervisor, chef, or restaurant owner positions.
You can expand your search for food service jobs by checking out these similar positions:
About Working in Chicago, Illinois
If you're going to Chicago to experience "da Bears," deep-dish pizza, and windy streets, native Chicagoans say "fogetta 'bout it!" While these have made Chicago famous, you'll find many locals eating thin-crust, tavern-style pie. Plus, the city isn't on any list of the windiest cities in the U.S.—a local newspaper named it "The Windy City" after the Chicago elite's propensity toward boastfulness and self-promotion. And while the Chicago jobs list (hit jobs, that is) includes notorious mobsters from Chicago like Al Capone, John Dillinger, and Baby Face Nelson, linguists are noticing that the "Chicago accent" is disappearing.
However, there's a reason Condé Nast Traveler has named Chicago the "best big city in the U.S." Chicago is home to top universities, including Northwestern University, Wheaton College, and Valparaiso. And if you're looking for Chicago jobs, you can relocate to any one of the city's unique neighborhoods, such as North Center with its cozy Irish pubs and breweries or Uptown, the lively entertainment district. For those who want to live further out from the city, you can also find jobs in popular suburbs including Cicero, Oak Park, and Evanston.
Update Your Chicago Cook Resume
Want to be selected as a top candidate for a cook job? Make sure you serve up a high-quality resume that highlights the skills you'll bring to the table. Need help writing your resume? Monster's resume writing tips can help you stand out from other qualified applicants. For a better idea of how your resume should look, refer to our line cook resume sample.
How Much Do Cook Jobs Pay in Chicago, Illinois?
Got money on your mind? You should! Make sure you’re getting paid what you’re worth. Our Salary Tools can help you understand what you can expect to make in cook jobs in Chicago, Illinois, as well as the skills that can boost your value and what the next steps in your career might be. Right now, the median cook pay in Chicago is $14.05 per hour, which is 7% higher than the national average.
Find Your Next Chicago Cook Job. Monster Can Help Get You Started
Are you prepared for a career in cook? If so, set up your profile on Monster for free and begin clicking on those cook jobs. When you sign up with us, you’ll receive custom job alerts and expert advice on how to negotiate your salary in Chicago, how to nail your job interview, and more.