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U.S. Culinary Workforce Booms: Wages and Employment Surge

10/11/2025

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Summary

Story summary

OysterLink's analysis shows significant growth in the U.S. culinary workforce since 2020.
Cooks' wages rose 27.8%, from $29,530 to $37,730.
Chef employment surged nearly 80% to 182,320 workers, and chef salaries reached $64,720 in 2024.
OysterLink, a job platform for hospitality professionals, provides insights and job postings, underscoring the sector's resilience relative to other hospitality roles.

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Story summary

OysterLink's analysis shows significant growth in the U.S. culinary workforce since 2020.
Cooks' wages rose 27.8%, from $29,530 to $37,730.
Chef employment surged nearly 80% to 182,320 workers, and chef salaries reached $64,720 in 2024.
OysterLink, a job platform for hospitality professionals, provides insights and job postings, underscoring the sector's resilience relative to other hospitality roles.