Cooks

National Occupational Classification (NOC): 63200

Fast Facts

  • Average Pay: N/A
  • Future Growth: N/A
  • Skill Level: N/A
  • Employment Size: N/A
  • Unemployment: N/A
  • Full-time Share: N/A

Sample Job Titles

  • Apprentice cook
  • Cook
  • Dietary cook
  • First cook
  • Grill cook
  • Hospital cook
  • Institutional cook
  • Journeyman/woman cook
  • Second cook
  • Short order cook


What do cooks do?

Cooks prepare and cook a wide variety of foods. They are employed in restaurants, hotels, hospitals and other health care institutions, central food commissaries, educational institutions and other establishments. They are also employed aboard ships and at construction and logging campsites. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Cooks perform some or all of the following 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.

Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada

 

Cooks primarily work in the following subsectors (NAICS) in Newfoundland and Labrador:

  • 722   Food services and drinking places
  • 623   Nursing and residential care facilities
  • 721   Accommodation services
  • 622  Hospitals
  • 911   Federal government public administration

Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada

 

Short and Long Term Occupational Projections

Short Term Projections for 2025-2027

The employment outlook will be moderate for cooks in Newfoundland and Labrador (rating of 3 out of 5) for the 2025-2027 period.

Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada

 

 

 

Number of Job Postings in 2025

During 2025, there were 763 public job postings for this occupation, with the following distribution:

Avalon: 56% Western: 13%
Eastern: 7% Labrador: 9%
Central: 10% NL-unspecified: 6%

Source: Vicinity Jobs (note: data used in this analysis reflects new unique monthly postings which are totaled for the calendar year)



Who works as cooks in Newfoundland and Labrador?

During the reference week of May 2021, there were approximately 2,345 people working in this occupation in Newfoundland and Labrador. 49% of those employed were Male+ and 51% of those employed were Female+.

Here is the age group breakdown for this group of workers:

15 to 24 25 to 54 55 to 64 65+
20% 55% 23% 2%

Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada

 

How much do cooks make?

Annual Earnings

The median employment income for all cooks in the reference year 2020 (2,965 workers in total, including those working part-time and full-time, as well as part-year and full-year) was $18,600.

Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada

 

Hourly Earnings

Salary information for cooks in Newfoundland and Labrador is as follows:

Low ($/hour) Median ($/hour) High ($/hour)
Newfoundland and Labrador $16.00 $17.00 $27.54

 

The following low, median, and high wages are for Canada:

Low ($/hour) Median ($/hour) High ($/hour)
$15.00 $18.00 $25.00

Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada

 

Most Frequently Sought Skills from Job Postings (2025)

  • Cooking / meals preparation
  • Food handling
  • English language
  • Kitchen cleaning
  • Teamwork
  • Cleaning

Source:  Vicinity Jobs



What training is required?

  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • Completion of a three-year apprenticeship program for cooks
    or
    completion of college or other program in cooking or food safety
    or
    several 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.
  • The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
  • There is mobility among the various types of cooks in this group.
  • Progression to supervisory or more senior positions, such as chef, is possible with experience and training.

Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada

* Find public and private education, training and skills development opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador here.

 

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