How To Become A Cook Supervisor: What It Is and Career Path

What is a cook supervisor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A cook supervisor is an individual who oversees the operations of a kitchen, ensuring that food is prepared safely and efficiently. They are responsible for managing a team of cooks, providing guidance and training as needed, as well as monitoring the dishes created. Additionally, they enforce health and safety regulations and maintain cleanliness in the kitchen. A cook supervisor must have strong leadership skills and be able to work well under pressure in a fast-paced environment.

ScoreCook SupervisorUS Average

Salary

3.2

Avg. Salary $41,118

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.2

Growth rate 16%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.03%

Asian 7.66%

Black or African American 8.93%

Hispanic or Latino 16.52%

Unknown 4.54%

White 61.31%

Gender

female 44.59%

male 55.41%

Age - 37

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 37

Stress level

6.2

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.3

Complexity level is basic

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.4

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a cook supervisor?

Pros

Potential for creative expression in menu planning and recipe development
Competitive pay and benefits packages
Ability to work flexible hours and schedules
Opportunities for networking and building professional relationships
Satisfaction of producing high-quality food for customers

Cons

Long and irregular working hours including weekends, holidays, and evenings
Responsibility for managing staff, which can be challenging and time-consuming
Dealing with difficult customers or staff members
Need for constant attention to cleanliness, sanitation, and food safety regulations
Difficulty balancing personal life with work commitments.

Key steps to become a cook supervisor

Explore cook supervisor education requirements

Most common cook supervisor degrees

High School Diploma

36.5 %

Associate

26.6 %

Bachelor's

19.3 %

Start to develop specific cook supervisor skills

Skills	Percentages
Food Handling	33.34%
Food Service	25.63%
Portion Control	9.19%
Kitchen Equipment	5.43%
HACCP	4.52%

Complete relevant cook supervisor training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New cook supervisors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a cook supervisor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real cook supervisor resumes.

Gain additional cook supervisor certifications

Cook supervisor certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific cook supervisor certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for cook supervisors include ServSafe Alcohol and Certified Dietary Manager (CDM).

More About Certifications

Research cook supervisor duties and responsibilities

Manage food expo; facilitate food temp logs; creation of menu specials; management and supervision of production staff
Assist culinary director in assign duties relate to kitchen operations.
Work with multiple POS systems by entering and processing orders.
Organize and put away inventory when it arrive using HACCP guidelines.

Prepare your cook supervisor resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your cook supervisor resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a cook supervisor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable cook supervisor resume templates

Build a professional cook supervisor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your cook supervisor resume.

Apply for cook supervisor jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a cook supervisor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do cook supervisors rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

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1 star

Cook supervisor reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020

Cons

Stewarding supervisor is the thing I don’t like is before the guest coming the kitchen people should be ready on time because if you late to deliver the food the service people blame you