Cooks: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time cooks in the UK earned a median £24,228 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 38% less than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
It is in the lowest-paid third of the 382 occupations (15th from the bottom).
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £20,334 and £27,831.
Median full-time pay: women £24,006 a year, men £24,773 a year.
Most jobs here are part-time: 17,000 of about 46,000 are full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 34.0% (from £18,087), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 47,500 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £18,067* | £409.00 | £12.26 | £9,000* | £163.10 | £12.21 |
| 20th percentile | £19,561 | £440.80 | £12.60 | £12,081 | £237.20 | £12.40 |
| 25th percentile | £20,334 | £451.80 | £12.80 | £12,752 | £268.70 | £12.56 |
| 30th percentile | £21,181 | £466.40 | £13.01 | £14,264 | £296.30 | £12.70 |
| 40th percentile | £23,254 | £486.80 | £13.25 | £16,341 | £350.60 | £13.05 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £24,228 | £510.50 | £13.86 | £17,885 | £398.30 | £13.57 |
| 60th percentile | £25,116 | £541.40 | £14.24 | £19,721 | £433.20 | £14.19 |
| 70th percentile | £26,747 | £591.00 | £14.72 | £21,698 | £473.20 | £14.76 |
| 75th percentile | £27,831 | £625.40 | £15.27 | £22,817 | £494.90 | £15.05 |
| 80th percentile | – | £649.80 | £15.66 | £24,241 | £514.50 | £15.62 |
| Mean | £24,601 | £545.80 | £14.30 | £18,252 | £394.50 | £14.29 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £18,087 | £370.50 | £9.91 | £13,483 | £267.70 | 57 |
| 2022 revised | £19,416 | £387.30 | £10.50 | £13,493 | £284.40 | 46 |
| 2023 revised | £21,467 | £454.20 | £11.91 | £14,761 | £314.50 | 46 |
| 2024 revised | £22,282 | £458.30 | £12.44 | £16,215 | £359.30 | 46 |
| 2025 provisional | £24,228 | £510.50 | £13.86 | £17,885 | £398.30 | 46 |
Cooks by region
UK: 47,500 (± 8,500), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What cooks do
Cooks prepare, season and cook food, often using pre-prepared ingredients, in clubs, private households, fast food outlets, shops selling food cooked on the premises and the catering departments and canteens of other establishments. (ONS SOC 2020, 5435)
Also covers: cook, cook-supervisor, fish fryer, head cook, chief cook, cook manager, cook supervisor, fryer (catering), griddler (catering), grill hand, cook in charge and school meals controller.
- Requisitions or purchases foodstuffs and checks quality
- Plans meals, prepares, seasons and cooks foodstuffs
- Cooks and sells a range of meals, such as fish and chips, over the counter
- Plans and co-ordinates kitchen work such as fetching, clearing and cleaning of equipment and utensils
There are no formal academic requirements. Training is provided off and on-the-job. NVQs/ SVQs in Food Preparation and Cooking are available at levels 1, 2 and 3. Apprenticeships are also available.
Related
Food preparation and hospitality trades (median £29,376) · Chefs · Catering and bar managers · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026