ANZSCO code
351411 Cook
Source: ABS: ANZSCO 2022 structure (occupation codes), read 2026-10-06 (retrieved 6 October 2026)
Employer guide
Hire a Cook in Australia
To hire a cook, separate the role from a chef by its duties, set the food handling standard you expect and confirm the hospitality award and classification. CrossNation recruits cooks for employers across Australia. The fee is 12% of the annual salary, charged only on a successful placement.
By CrossNation Editorial Team. Sources checked 6 October 2026.
12% of annual salary
Charged only when a placement succeeds. No placement, no fee.
90-day placement guarantee
See our terms.
Official data
Key facts from official sources
Common entry qualification
Certificate III in Commercial Cookery
Source: training.gov.au: National register of VET qualifications (retrieved 6 October 2026)
Licence
No national licence; the Food Standards Code applies to the kitchen
Source: Food Standards Australia New Zealand (retrieved 6 October 2026)
Modern award
Hospitality Industry (General) Award [MA000009] or Restaurant Industry Award [MA000119]
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman: List of awards (retrieved 6 October 2026)
What you need to know
Cook or chef: which role are you hiring?
The difference drives both the applicants you attract and the award classification. A cook prepares and cooks to a set menu and recipes on a station, while a chef plans menus, orders stock and supervises. In small venues the roles overlap, so write the duties: stations, covers per service, prep responsibilities and whether the cook runs the kitchen on quiet shifts. If you need menu planning or costing, you are hiring a chef and should price it that way. A well-defined cook role also helps applicants judge whether it is a step up from kitchen hand or a step towards chef.
What food safety and skills checks make sense?
Food businesses must meet the Food Standards Code, which includes making sure food handlers have the skills and knowledge for their tasks. Decide whether you require a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery or accept experience and a trial shift. Ask about allergen handling, and whether the candidate has worked the type of service you run, such as high-volume lunches or an a la carte dinner. A paid trial shift is reasonable, but unpaid trials have limits under workplace law, so read the Fair Work guidance before offering one.
Which award and shift pattern apply?
Cooks are usually covered by the Hospitality Industry (General) Award [MA000009], the Restaurant Industry Award [MA000119] or an enterprise agreement, each with levels for cooks, penalty rates for evenings, weekends and public holidays, and rules for split shifts and breaks. Say in the brief when shifts start and finish and how weekends rotate. We do not publish pay figures on this page. Use the Fair Work Pay Calculator with the award and level to cost a roster, and remember casual employees have their own loading and rules under the award.
Before you brief a recruiter: cook checklist
Checklist
- Write the stations, covers and prep duties in the position description
- Decide whether the role is cook or chef and classify it to match
- Set the food handling and allergen standard
- Choose the award and level and record it in the contract
- Describe shift start and finish times and weekend rotation
- Plan any trial shift as paid work
Tell us the role, location and start date
The fee is 12% of the candidate's annual salary, charged only when a placement succeeds.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay a cook under the kitchen hand classification?
Classification follows the duties and qualifications, not the title you give. If the person cooks to the menu, check the cook levels in the award.
Is a trial shift allowed before I hire a cook?
A short trial can be used to assess skills, but unpaid trials have limits. Read the Fair Work Ombudsman's guidance on unpaid trials before you offer one.
What qualification should I ask a cook to hold?
A Certificate III in Commercial Cookery is the usual trade qualification, but many venues hire on experience. Decide your standard and apply it consistently.
How does CrossNation charge to recruit a cook?
The fee is 12% of the candidate's annual salary, charged only when a placement succeeds, and placements carry a 90-day placement guarantee. There is no charge to send a brief. CrossNation recruits cooks for employers across Australia, and you can send the role, location and start date through the employer enquiry form.
Can I recruit an overseas cook through CrossNation?
CrossNation recruits sponsorship-ready overseas candidates for employers that want them. Cooks are on skilled occupation lists with caveats for some venue types such as limited-service restaurants, so take advice before relying on overseas hiring. The employer holds or obtains its own approval, and CrossNation cannot promise a visa, an approval or a job. This is general information, not migration advice. Speak to a registered migration agent.
What should I verify before I offer a cook the job?
Cooks do not need registration. Food businesses must meet the Food Standards Code, and senior cooks are often asked to hold a food safety supervisor certificate. For a cook, the award that commonly applies is the Hospitality Industry (General) Award (MA000009), but coverage depends on your industry and the person's duties, so confirm it with the Fair Work Ombudsman before you set the offer. Keep a copy of any licence, registration or check you sight for your cook, and confirm their right to work in Australia before they start.