What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Cooks, Private Household in the U.S. earn more than $47,940 a year — the middle 80% land between $36,090 and $91,130. About 1,100 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Cooks, Private Household”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Service and sales workers earn about ₹15,575 a month on average — around ₹1.9 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$47,940typical pay / year
1,100people in this work
$91,130+top 10% earn
₹1.9 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Sending & sharing3
Cook according to employer needs
+Prepare tonight's menu for Mrs. Alvarez: three gluten-free dinners and two vegetarian lunches, list…
Cook according to employer needs
+Prepare tonight's menu for Mrs. Alvarez: three gluten-free dinners and two vegetarian lunches, list ingredients with quantities, order missing fresh produce for delivery tomorrow morning, and leave cooking and cleanup instructions for the weekend assistant.
The tools that do the workAPPCA Personal Chef OfficeFood inventoryESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Serve meals and snacks to families and guests
+Serve tonight's family supper and two afternoon snacks for the Martinez family and their weekend guests:…
Serve meals and snacks to families and guests
+Serve tonight's family supper and two afternoon snacks for the Martinez family and their weekend guests: plate the main, two sides and a child's portion, label allergens, deliver to the dining room by 6:30 p.m., and clear and wipe surfaces afterward.
The tools that do the workWork schedulingFood inventoryjob descriptionsO*NET
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Shop for or order food and supplies
+Order this week's food and supply list for the household: replenish proteins, fresh produce, dairy, and…
Shop for or order food and supplies
+Order this week's food and supply list for the household: replenish proteins, fresh produce, dairy, and cleaning supplies, prioritise organic greens and low-sodium items, place the order for Tuesday delivery and confirm cost limits with the household budget owner.
The tools that do the workFood inventoryCost trackingjob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work17
Bake breads and pastries
+Bake a batch of ten sourdough loaves and twenty assorted morning pastries for Saturday breakfast, proof and…
Bake breads and pastries
+Bake a batch of ten sourdough loaves and twenty assorted morning pastries for Saturday breakfast, proof and score by 5:00 a.m., bake to a golden crust, cool on racks, package six pastries for two children with nut-free labels.
The tools that do the workCooking e-booksjob descriptionsO*NET
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Work ergonomically
+Set up my prep station to reduce bending and reaching: raise the cutting board and mixing bowls to waist…
Work ergonomically
+Set up my prep station to reduce bending and reaching: raise the cutting board and mixing bowls to waist height, move frequently used tools to the right-side shelf, schedule a 10-minute stretch break after each two-hour prep block, and reorder non-slip mats today.
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Clean rooms
+Deep-clean the main kitchen and pantry after tonight’s service: clear countertops, wipe cabinets and…
Clean rooms
+Deep-clean the main kitchen and pantry after tonight’s service: clear countertops, wipe cabinets and appliance exteriors, sweep and mop floors, dust high shelves, dispose of expired items, and confirm cleaning supplies are restocked for tomorrow’s morning shift.
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Cool, package, label, and freeze foods
+Cool the roasted chicken and salads to safe temperature, portion into single-meal airtight containers, label…
Cool, package, label, and freeze foods
+Cool the roasted chicken and salads to safe temperature, portion into single-meal airtight containers, label each with contents and date, stack flat in the freezer to chill solid, and rotate older packs to the front before leaving today.
The tools that do the workFood inventoryjob descriptionsO*NET
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Keep records of menus and finances
+Update the weekly menu log and income sheet with this week’s client dinners, enter ingredient costs and…
Keep records of menus and finances
+Update the weekly menu log and income sheet with this week’s client dinners, enter ingredient costs and payments, reconcile receipts against bank deposits, and save a PDF copy of the month-to-date profit summary for my file.
The tools that do the workIntuit QuickBooksjob descriptionsO*NET
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Prepare meals in private homes
+Prepare tonight’s four-course dinner in the client kitchen starting with mise en place for each course, time…
Prepare meals in private homes
+Prepare tonight’s four-course dinner in the client kitchen starting with mise en place for each course, time the oven and stovetop so the main rests ten minutes, plate two identical covers for the couple, and clean as you go so the space is guest-ready.
The tools that do the workWork schedulingjob descriptions
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Instruct household staff
+Run a hands-on training with the house assistant on food safety, storage and reheating: show proper cooling,…
Instruct household staff
+Run a hands-on training with the house assistant on food safety, storage and reheating: show proper cooling, walk through the freezer labeling system, demonstrate wiping and sanitising work surfaces, then leave a one-page checklist for daily duties.
The tools that do the workAPPCA Personal Chef OfficeESCO
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Clean the house
+Do a room-by-room clean after service: collect and wash all dishes, wipe counters and stovetop with…
Clean the house
+Do a room-by-room clean after service: collect and wash all dishes, wipe counters and stovetop with disinfectant, sweep and spot-mop the kitchen floor, dust visible surfaces, and return cleaning supplies to the cupboard before the client returns.
The tools that do the workWork schedulingESCO
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Wash activities
+Sort laundry from the service — linens, aprons, and dish towels — pre-treat stains, run the correct cycles by…
Wash activities
+Sort laundry from the service — linens, aprons, and dish towels — pre-treat stains, run the correct cycles by fabric, dry and fold immediately, then record when each batch was done so I can bill the client if agreed.
The tools that do the workCost trackingESCO
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Take care of children
+Look after Isla and Mateo after school today: set a quiet play area, prepare a nut-free snack they both like,…
Take care of children
+Look after Isla and Mateo after school today: set a quiet play area, prepare a nut-free snack they both like, start the 4:30 homework routine, and be ready with a calm bedtime story by 7:30 so I can finish dinner service.
The tools that do the workWork schedulingESCO
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Perform gardening tasks
+Tend the herb bed and vegetable pots this morning: weed the beds, water deeply at the roots, pinch back basil…
Perform gardening tasks
+Tend the herb bed and vegetable pots this morning: weed the beds, water deeply at the roots, pinch back basil and rosemary for tonight’s garnish, and bag trimmings for compost so plants are ready for dinner prep.
The tools that do the workFood inventoryESCO
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Order supplies
+Order the week’s perishables now: three kilos of Roma tomatoes, two dozen eggs, organic spinach, and…
Order supplies
+Order the week’s perishables now: three kilos of Roma tomatoes, two dozen eggs, organic spinach, and replacement dish soap; choose next-morning delivery, verify price limits so the weekly food budget isn’t exceeded, and note substitutions allowed.
The tools that do the workFood inventoryCost trackingESCO
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Manage expenditures
+Reconcile last week’s food and household spend: list vendor invoices, flag any over-budget items above the…
Manage expenditures
+Reconcile last week’s food and household spend: list vendor invoices, flag any over-budget items above the set limits, allocate costs to lunch or dinner service, and produce a one-page summary for Friday bookkeeping.
The tools that do the workCost trackingIntuit QuickBooksESCO
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Perform dusting activities
+Dust the prep kitchen and dining area now: wipe down shelves and light fixtures, remove crumbs from counters,…
Perform dusting activities
+Dust the prep kitchen and dining area now: wipe down shelves and light fixtures, remove crumbs from counters, polish stainless surfaces, and leave a note of any repairs needed so service stays hygienic and safe.
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Control of expenses
+Set tighter expense controls for the month: cap weekly produce spend, require approval for non-stock…
Control of expenses
+Set tighter expense controls for the month: cap weekly produce spend, require approval for non-stock purchases over twenty dollars, attach receipts to each entry, and run a biweekly report to spot overspend before payroll.
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Food inventory
+Update the food inventory with today's deliveries, note quantities of chicken, heirloom tomatoes, and…
Food inventory
+Update the food inventory with today's deliveries, note quantities of chicken, heirloom tomatoes, and ricotta, flag items below par for reordering, and email the updated food inventory list to Sara by Tuesday morning for menu planning.
The tools that do the workFood inventoryO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Cost tracking
+Reconcile last month's client invoices against purchases, add missing receipts for June, update cost tracking…
Cost tracking
+Reconcile last month's client invoices against purchases, add missing receipts for June, update cost tracking to reflect the bulk chicken purchase at $120, and generate the profitability summary for July proposals.
The tools that do the workIntuit QuickBooksO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Make1
Direct kitchen operations and food activities
+Run the kitchen for Sunday brunch: assign prep stations to Ana and Marcus, post the prep and cook timeline,…
Direct kitchen operations and food activities
+Run the kitchen for Sunday brunch: assign prep stations to Ana and Marcus, post the prep and cook timeline, check mise en place is complete by 9:00 a.m., enforce cross-contamination steps, and review service flow before guests arrive.
The tools that do the workWork schedulingFood inventoryjob descriptionsO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Learning1
Create and explore new cuisines
+Develop and test a new weeknight Mediterranean menu: research three recipes, cook two iterations of each with…
Create and explore new cuisines
+Develop and test a new weeknight Mediterranean menu: research three recipes, cook two iterations of each with local tomatoes and olives, note timing and cost per plate, then document one family-friendly version for next Wednesday's dinner.
The tools that do the workWeb browserCost trackingjob descriptionsO*NET
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses