Lead cook demographics and statistics in the US
Lead cook demographics research summary. Zippia estimates lead cook demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our lead cook estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about lead cooks after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 112,478 lead cooks currently employed in the United States.
- 27.4% of all lead cooks are women, while 72.6% are men.
- The average lead cook age is 38 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of lead cooks is White (57.1%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (18.3%), Asian (9.4%) and Black or African American (9.3%).
- Lead cooks are most in-demand in Atlanta, GA.
- Seattle, WA pays an annual average wage of $47,439, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women lead cooks earned 96% of what men earned.
- Wyoming is the best state for lead cooks to live.
- Lead cooks are 72% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Lead cook demographics by:
Lead cook gender statistics
27.4% of lead cooks are women and 72.6% of lead cooks are men.
- Male, 72.6%
- Female, 27.4%
Lead cook gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 72.6% |
| Female | 27.4% |
Lead cook gender pay gap
Women earn 96¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$37,411
Female income
$35,766
Lead cook gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in lead cook positions over time. Currently, 27.4% of lead cooks are female.
Lead cook gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 69.86% | 30.14% |
| 2011 | 70.26% | 29.74% |
| 2012 | 71.29% | 28.71% |
| 2013 | 71.38% | 28.62% |
| 2014 | 72.58% | 27.42% |
| 2015 | 71.85% | 28.15% |
| 2016 | 72.69% | 27.31% |
| 2017 | 72.73% | 27.27% |
| 2018 | 72.04% | 27.96% |
| 2019 | 71.79% | 28.21% |
| 2020 | 72.53% | 27.47% |
| 2021 | 72.58% | 27.42% |
Lead cook related jobs gender ratio
We compared lead cooks with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, saucier and vacuum kettle cook have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Diet Clerk | 13% | 87% |
| Dietary Clerk | 16% | 84% |
| School Cafeteria Cook | 20% | 80% |
| Lead Cook | 73% | 27% |
| Line Cook/Dishwasher | 84% | 16% |
| Vacuum Kettle Cook | 87% | 13% |
| Saucier | 91% | 9% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Lead cook demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among lead cooks is White, which makes up 57.1% of all lead cooks. Comparatively, 18.3% of lead cooks are Hispanic or Latino and 9.4% of lead cooks are Asian.
- White, 57.1%
- Hispanic or Latino, 18.3%
- Asian, 9.4%
- Black or African American, 9.3%
- Unknown, 4.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
Lead cook race
| Lead cook race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 57.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 18.3% |
| Asian | 9.4% |
| Black or African American | 9.3% |
| Unknown | 4.7% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.2% |
Lead cook race and ethnicity over time
See how lead cook racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Lead cook race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 61.44% | 10.95% | 8.37% | 16.63% |
| 2011 | 61.24% | 12.14% | 8.41% | 15.14% |
| 2012 | 60.91% | 11.67% | 8.21% | 16.10% |
| 2013 | 61.06% | 11.52% | 8.20% | 16.30% |
| 2014 | 60.64% | 11.39% | 8.47% | 16.25% |
| 2015 | 60.68% | 11.15% | 8.57% | 16.37% |
| 2016 | 60.36% | 10.80% | 8.50% | 16.83% |
| 2017 | 59.50% | 10.43% | 8.67% | 17.41% |
| 2018 | 60.61% | 10.41% | 8.55% | 16.90% |
| 2019 | 60.66% | 10.00% | 8.91% | 16.83% |
| 2020 | 58.64% | 9.35% | 9.16% | 17.02% |
| 2021 | 57.10% | 9.34% | 9.45% | 18.32% |
Lead cook wage gap by race
According to our data, asian lead cooks have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american lead cooks have the lowest average salary at $36,743.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $37,091 |
| White | $37,151 |
| Black or African American | $36,743 |
| Asian | $38,224 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $37,867 |
Average lead cook age
See how the average age of lead cooks varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Lead cook age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 35 | 45 |
| Unknown | 27 | 36 |
| Asian | 42 | 49.5 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 35 | 42 |
| White | 29 | 44 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 31.5 | 49 |
Lead cook age breakdown
The average age of lead cooks is 40+ years years old, representing 45% of the lead cook population.
Lead cook age breakdown
| Lead Cook Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 45% |
| 30-40 years | 22% |
| 20-30 years | 26% |
Lead cook educational attainment
The most common degree for lead cooks is associate degree, with 35% of lead cooks earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 33% and high school diploma degree at 17%.
- Associate, 35%
- High School Diploma, 33%
- Bachelor's, 17%
- Diploma, 10%
- Other Degrees, 5%
Lead cooks by degree level
| Lead cook degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Associate | 35% |
| High School Diploma | 33% |
| Bachelor's | 17% |
| Diploma | 10% |
| Other Degrees | 5% |
Lead cook jobs you might like
Lead cook wage gap by degree level
According to the data, lead cooks with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $38,650 annually. With a Associate degree, lead cooks earn a median annual income of $37,645 compared to $36,714 for lead cooks with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $36,714 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $38,650 |
| No Education | $36,233 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $37,645 |
Lead cook employment statistics
Most lead cooks work for a private in the hospitality industry.
Company size where lead cooks work
Below, you can see the size of companies where lead cooks work.
Lead cook jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 5% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 12% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 15% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 10% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 30% |
| > 10,000 employees | 29% |
Lead cook jobs by company type
Employees with the lead cook job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most lead cooks prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Lead cook jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 5% |
| Public | 21% |
| Private | 72% |
| Government | 1% |
Lead cook jobs by industry
The most common industries for lead cooks are hospitality, health care and retail.
Lead cook industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Hospitality | 54% |
| Health Care | 9% |
| Education | 5% |
| Fortune 500 | 5% |
| Retail | 5% |
| Professional | 4% |
| Media | 3% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Manufacturing | 3% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Government | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Technology | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
Lead cook turnover and employment statistics
Lead cook unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for lead cooks between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Lead cook unemployment rate by year
| Year | Lead cook unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 13.74% |
| 2011 | 13.72% |
| 2012 | 12.24% |
| 2013 | 11.55% |
| 2014 | 9.93% |
| 2015 | 8.76% |
| 2016 | 8.73% |
| 2017 | 7.83% |
| 2018 | 7.48% |
| 2019 | 6.91% |
| 2020 | 10.00% |
| 2021 | 10.11% |
Average lead cook tenure
The average lead cook stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 17,514 lead cooks resumes in Zippia's database.
Lead cook tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 21% |
| 1-2 years | 39% |
| 3-4 years | 15% |
| 5-7 years | 14% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 6% |
Lead cook LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of lead cooks that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Lead Cook | 5.53% | - |
| Pantry Worker | 6.78% | 31,402 |
| Bartender, Cook, And Waitress | 7.02% | 162,319 |
| HMS Host | 7.29% | 10,342 |
| Grill Operator | 7.36% | 192,853 |
| Bartender/Certified Trainer | 7.68% | 80,818 |
| Crew Leader Assistant | 8.43% | 117,028 |
Similar lead cook jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Pantry Worker | 6.78% | 31,402 |
| Bartender, Cook, And Waitress | 7.02% | 162,319 |
| HMS Host | 7.29% | 10,342 |
| Grill Operator | 7.36% | 192,853 |
| Bartender/Certified Trainer | 7.68% | 80,818 |
| Crew Leader Assistant | 8.43% | 117,028 |
Foreign languages spoken by lead cooks
The most common foreign language among lead cooks is Spanish at 60.6%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 12.6% and Italian is the third-most popular at 6.6%.
- Spanish, 60.6%
- French, 12.6%
- Italian, 6.6%
- German, 4.4%
- Japanese, 2.5%
- Other, 13.3%
Lead cook languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 60.6% |
| French | 12.6% |
| Italian | 6.6% |
| German | 4.4% |
| Japanese | 2.5% |
| Other | 13.3% |
