Cooking is a great career choice in Australia due to high job demand, strong salary potential, creativity, career growth, and global opportunities. The hospitality industry is expanding, and trained chefs are in high demand across restaurants, hotels, and catering services. With the right qualifications and skills, a career in cooking can lead to long-term job stability and financial success.
Why Is Cooking a Great Career Choice in Australia?
The Australian hospitality sector is one of the fastest-growing industries, with a high demand for chefs, cooks, and kitchen professionals. Here’s why:
5 Reasons to Become a Cook
1. High Demand for Jobs
- The number of cooks is on the rise due to a booming hospitality industry comprising thousands of restaurants, cafes, and food catering services.
- Shortage of Trained Workers: There is a shortage of trained cooks in Australia, so it is quite easy to get a job in this field.
- Visa Opportunities: While cooks may not be as prominent on the Skilled Occupation List compared to chefs, there are many visa opportunities in the hospitality industry for skilled professionals, especially if they have acquired experience. Skills assessment
2. Creativity & Passion for Food
- Cooking provides ample opportunity to be creative and to express passion for food. Trying out a variety of flavors, techniques, and presentations is quite rewarding.
- Many successful cooks have turned their love for cooking into thriving careers. For example, well-known food personalities like Matt Moran and Maggie Beer began their journeys as cooks and went on to very successful careers based on their passion for cooking.
3. Various Career Opportunities for Cooks
A career as a cook offers many options to suit several interests and specializations. Here are some of the jobs you can consider:
- Restaurant Cook: Work in any type of dining, from most casual to high-end, preparing just about any dish possible that could be conceptualized.
- Cruise Ship or Airline Catering: Combine traveling with cooking for passengers. Oftentimes, as part of the duties, one would plan menus to meet the varied tastes and dietary requirements of travelers.
- Pastry Cook or Baker: Specialize in baking delectable treats, artisan bread, pastries, and desserts. Commonly, pastry cooks work for bakeries, hotels, or restaurants that have a main course in desserts.
- Line Cook: Working in the kitchen team, line cooks specialize in specific cooking stations, such as grill, sauté, or prep. A line cook becomes very important in the busy kitchen to keep the foods ready on time.
- Prep Cook: He prepares the ingredients and assists the chefs in basic cooking. It is a very good starting point for beginners in this field.
- Catering Cook: Cater for events such as parties, functions, and corporate events. The catering cooks usually work in catering companies to provide customized menus for all sorts of events.
- Vegetarian/Vegan Cook: Specialize in the preparation of plant-based dishes for restaurants, cafes, or meal prep companies that serve health-conscious clients. This is a very popular position, as many people are looking for plant-based options.
- Grill Cook: Specialize in cooking meats, seafood, and vegetables on grills or griddles. Grill cooks can be found in steakhouses, BBQ joints, or outdoor catering events, showcasing their skills in the culinary arts.
- Food Truck Cook : These people work in a mobile environment, preparing and serving food through a food truck. The position allows creativity and the ability to explore different types of cuisines in a fast-paced environment, essential for anyone in the culinary field.
- Banquet Cook: A banquet cook prepares bulk food for events organized in hotels or conference centers. Although this job is very demanding, it is very rewarding for people who believe in keeping busy.
- Event Cook: Work in fairs, festivals, or even market stalls with pre-prepared food for public consumption. The advantage that comes with this category is flexibility and the thrill of working at different places/venues.
4. Competitive Salary & Growth Potential
Levels of Cooks and Relevant Salaries
Applied level of competence and responsibility directly influences salary expectations for cooks. Different levels and average salaries are presented in a tabulated form for clarity in structured format:
|
Cook Level
|
Description
|
Average Salary (AUD per year)
|
|
Entry-Level Cook
|
Assists in food prep and basic cooking tasks.
|
$50,000
|
|
Line Cook
|
Responsible for a specific station; more experience.
|
$55,000
|
|
Prep Cook
|
Prepares ingredients; supports line cooks.
|
$49,000
|
|
Pastry Cook
|
Specializes in baking and desserts.
|
$60,000
|
|
Senior Cook
|
More experience; may supervise junior cooks.
|
$65,000 - $75,000
|
|
Head Cook
|
Manages kitchen operations; oversees staff.
|
$80,000 - $100,000+
|
|
Kitchen Manager
|
Responsible for inventory, staff management, and scheduling.
|
$90,000 - $110,000+
|
Salaries by State in Australia
While the salaries vary from experience to the type of establishment where one works, the demand for cooks can also be very different in various states, impacting their career path. Let's have a look at the top States for a cook demand in Australia:
|
State/Territory
|
Average Salary (AUD per year)
|
Demand Level
|
|
New South Wales
|
$55,000 - $60,000
|
High
|
|
Victoria
|
$54,000 - $58,000
|
High
|
|
Queensland
|
$52,000 - $56,000
|
Moderate to High
|
|
Western Australia
|
$55,000 - $60,000
|
High
|
|
South Australia
|
$50,000 - $55,000
|
Moderate
|
|
Tasmania
|
$48,000 - $52,000
|
Moderate
|
|
Northern Territory
|
$50,000 - $54,000
|
Moderate
|
|
Australian Capital Territory
|
$54,000 - $58,000
|
Moderate to High
|
5. Global Opportunities & Travel
It therefore means that culinary qualifications obtained within Australia are respected all over the world, allowing many opportunities to work abroad in prestigious settings.
Jobs can be found in the following places:
- Michelin-starred restaurants outside Australia, like Europe and the USA;
- Resorts of luxury within the Maldives, Bali, and Dubai;
- International cruise ships and airlines to combine work and travel experiences.
How to Know If a Culinary Career Is NOT Right for You?
Cooking is a great career, but it's not for everyone. Before enrolling in a culinary program, consider these challenges:
- ⏳ Long Hours & Physical Work – Chefs work in fast-paced kitchens, often standing for 10+ hours per day.
- High-Stress Environment – Managing multiple orders in a busy kitchen can be demanding.
- Weekend & Holiday Work - Because the hospitality industry works when others play, expect weekend and holiday shifts to be the norm.
Who Shouldn't Choose This Career?
- Anyone that doesn't like working under pressure.
- Anyone that would prefer to work in a 9-to-5 office environment.
- Anyone that doesn't like hot, busy kitchens.
How We Can Help You Succeed
If you’re looking to start your culinary career, Educube help you to get:
✅ Skills assessment services for aspiring chefs.
✅ Career guidance to help you find the right path.
✅ Training programs to boost your skills and qualifications.
💡 Start Your Culinary Career Today!
👉 Visit Educube to get Expert guidance for your cook skills assessment and take the first step toward becoming a cook in Australia!