Food Preparation & Serving
Cooks, Private Household
Also called: Certified Personal Chef (CPC), Personal Chef, Personal Private Chef, Private Chef
US median pay
$47,940
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+5.1%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
5,000
35,400 employed
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Preparation 3/5 · Medium preparation
What this job is
Prepare meals in private homes. Includes personal chefs.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Direct the operation and organization of kitchens and all food-related activities, including the presentation and serving of food.
- Specialize in preparing fancy dishes or food for special diets.
- Plan and prepare food for parties, holiday meals, luncheons, special functions, and other social events.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Service Orientation3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.0/5
- Management of Material Resources2.9/5
- Coordination2.9/5
- Persuasion2.8/5
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service4.6/5
- Food Production4.1/5
- Sales and Marketing3.7/5
- Administration and Management3.1/5
- Production and Processing3.0/5
- Mathematics3.0/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 3 of 5 — Medium preparation. Usually vocational training, an associate's degree or an apprenticeship.
Typical entry education (BLS): Postsecondary nondegree award, plus less than 5 years of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Post-secondary certificate38%
- High school diploma31%
- Less than high school15%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Artistic
Creating, designing and self-expression
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.