Career Overview
Prepare meals in private homes. Includes personal chefs.
Also Known As
- Certified Personal Chef (CPC)
- Personal Chef
- Personal Private Chef
- Private Chef
Alternate Job Titles
- Certified Personal Chef (CPC)
- Cook
- Cooking Chef
- Culinary Artist
- Culinary Chef
- Culinary Specialist
- Culinary Worker
- Dinner Cook
- Holiday Food Prepper
- Household Cook
- Personal Certified Chef (PCC)
- Personal Chef
- Personal Private Chef
- Private Chef
- Private Executive Chef
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Peel, wash, trim, and cook vegetables and meats, and bake breads and pastries.
- Cool, package, label, and freeze foods for later consumption and provide instructions for reheating.
- Plan menus according to employers' needs and diet restrictions.
- Shop for or order food and kitchen supplies and equipment.
- Prepare meals in private homes according to employers' recipes or tastes, handling all meals for the family and possibly for other household staff.
- Keep records pertaining to menus, finances, and other business-related issues.
- Stock, organize, and clean kitchens and cooking utensils.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
- Food Production
- Sales and Marketing
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Near Vision
- Fluency of Ideas
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Expression
- Manual Dexterity
- Finger Dexterity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Information Ordering
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Innovation
- Integrity
- Self-Control
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Independence
- Achievement
- Relationships
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Intuit QuickBooks
- WordPress
Tools & Equipment
- Bakers' knives
- Basting brushes
- Bench scrapers
- Boning knives
- Bread knives
- Butchers' gloves
- Carving forks
- Colanders
- Computer laser printers
- Convection ovens
- Corkscrews
- Countertop microwaves
- Cutting boards
- Deep-fat thermometers
- Digital kitchen timers
Work Environment
- Spend Time Standing
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Time Pressure
- Freedom to Make Decisions
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $38,240 |
| Median | $44,530 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $92,480 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 900
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Cooks, Restaurant
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $36,830
Chefs and Head Cooks
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $60,990
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $36,450
Food Preparation Workers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $34,220
Cooks, Short Order
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $35,620
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.