How much does a cook earn?
Cooks plan, prepare and plate dishes in restaurants, hotels, canteens and catering – from mise en place and cooking processes to service. Dual vocational training usually takes three years and covers kitchen technique, hygiene and goods management. Gross pay depends on region, employer, kitchen format, shift model and responsibility. As a guide, qualified cooks in Germany in 2026 often earn about 2.550–3.200 € gross per month; during training typical ranges are around 880–1.170 €.
Salary by region (gross/month)
Guide figures as of 2026. The apprenticeship column covers dual cook training pay or comparable paths; qualified means working cooks in the kitchen. Actual pay depends on collective agreements, employer, region, experience, shift allowances and kitchen format (e.g. quick-service, hotel, fine dining) and is not a guarantee.
Further training options
Job and everyday work
A cook keeps the kitchen on schedule: checking and preparing goods, cooking to recipes and standards, and coordinating with service and colleagues. Daily work includes hygiene and HACCP, time pressure at peak hours, evening and weekend shifts, and caring for equipment, stations and stock.
- Complete mise en place: cut vegetables, start stocks, prepare sides and sauces.
- Cook, season and plate dishes to recipes and standards, then send them to the pass.
- Follow hygiene rules, temperature checks and allergen labelling – even under time pressure.
- Receive, store and rotate goods; align stock and orders with kitchen management.
- Clean and maintain stations, equipment and cold storage; handle waste correctly.
- Coordinate stations as a team, communicate with service and stay calm and precise at peak times.
