OysterLink analysis of BLS data shows cooks earning $683 more per month since 2020, while chef employment has surged nearly 80% in four years.
Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - October 9, 2025) - Wages for U.S. cooks have increased by 27.8% since 2020, rising from $29,530 to $37,730, according to new analysis from OysterLink of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data. Chef wages also grew to $64,720 in 2024, while employment for chefs nearly doubled over the four-year period, climbing 79.6% to 182,320 workers.
Culinary workforce booms since 2020 as chef roles nearly double and cook wages rise 28%
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"Since 2020, cooks are earning over $8,000 more per year and chef employment has nearly doubled," said Milos Eric, Co-Founder and General Manager of OysterLink. "No other hospitality roles show this level of combined wage and job growth, which highlights how critical culinary professionals are to the industry."
Table 1. Culinary Wage and Employment Growth
| Job Title | 2020 Avg. Salary | 2024 Avg. Salary | Wage Growth | Employment 2020 | Employment 2024 | Employment Growth |
| Cook | $29,530 | $37,730 | +27.8% | 1,109,650 | 1,452,130 | +30.9% |
| Chef | $58,740 | $64,720 | +10.2% | 101,490 | 182,320 | +79.6% |
How Cooks & Chefs Compare to Other Hospitality Roles
While bartenders saw the highest wage growth at nearly 38%, and waiters followed closely with 39.6%, few roles experienced the same combination of wage gains and massive employment growth as cooks and chefs. By contrast, cashiers' wages rose only 23.8%, while employment declined 5.3%.
This makes the culinary field one of the most resilient and rapidly expanding segments of the hospitality industry – providing both higher pay and more job opportunities compared to other frontline roles.
About OysterLink
OysterLink is a job platform for restaurant and hospitality professionals with over 400,000 monthly visitors. OysterLink connects talent with opportunities across the U.S., including the top-paying part-time bartender jobs in Miami and part-time baker jobs in Miami.
The platform also offers trend reports, expert insights, and interviews with leaders in hospitality. To explore more data-driven insights or post a job that works for today's talent, visit www.oysterlink.com.
Media Contact
Ana Demidova
ana@oysterlink.com
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269917
