enoono
  • Free for job seekers, no placement fee
  • Checked businesses are marked in the job ad
  • Only those you allow can see your data

Cook in Austria: pay, duties, how to apply

As a cook in Austria you prepare food, plan menus and follow hygiene rules. With a completed apprenticeship you earn at least €2,232.00 gross per month in Tyrol, Salzburg and Vorarlberg from 1 October 2026, and €2,304.00 in Lower and Upper Austria. As a kitchen helper or dishwasher it is at least €2,096.50.

Key facts at a glance

Cook with apprenticeship
From €2,232.00 gross/month (Tyrol, Salzburg, Vorarlberg), up to €2,330.00 in Vienna hotels
Kitchen helper, dishwasher
From €2,096.50 gross/month across Austria
Chef de partie
Pay group 2 or 3, for example €2,440.00 in Tyrol
Training
Apprenticeship as a cook, 3 years
Working hours
40 hours a week, often evenings and weekends
Season
Winter November to April, summer May to October
Room and meals
Depends on the employer; see our guide “Seasonal work in Austria”

What does a cook do in a seasonal business?

You prepare food, from breakfast to set menus and à la carte. You chop, season, taste and plate. Prep work, purchasing, storage and checking deliveries are part of the job too.

You follow hygiene and food safety rules and know the allergens in your dishes. In large kitchens you work at one station, for example sauces, fish, cold kitchen or desserts.

What do I need?

The apprenticeship as a cook takes 3 years. With a completed apprenticeship or an equivalent school you are a skilled cook. Without one you work as a kitchen helper.

You need to work fast and clean, stay organised when several dishes must be ready at once, and have a good sense of taste. The work is physical and often in the evenings and at weekends.

How much do cooks earn?

Minimum pay is set in the pay scale of the collective agreement for your federal state. The amounts apply from 1 October 2026, gross, for 40 hours a week and up to the 5th year of service.

  • Head chef with large responsibility (pay group 1): €2,713.00 in Tyrol, Salzburg, Vorarlberg and Carinthia
  • Chef de partie or sous chef (pay group 2): €2,440.00 in Tyrol, Salzburg, Vorarlberg and Carinthia
  • Cook with apprenticeship (pay group 3): €2,232.00 in Tyrol, Salzburg, Vorarlberg, Carinthia and Styria; €2,282.00 in Burgenland; €2,304.00 in Lower and Upper Austria; €2,330.00 in Vienna hotels
  • Kitchen helper, dishwasher (pay group 5, under 10 years in the industry): €2,096.50

Where are cooks needed for the season?

According to the AMS, only some cooks work all year. In tourist regions demand changes with summer and winter, and it is high in the west of Austria.

If you want a particular region, apply as early as possible.

How much German do I need in the kitchen?

The AMS does not list a fixed language requirement for cooks. In the kitchen, though, orders and instructions are usually in German. Learn the key words for ingredients, cooking methods and allergens.

How do I apply as a cook?

Say which stations you have worked and which cuisines you know: Austrian, Mediterranean, banquet, breakfast, vegetarian. Mention the size of the kitchen and how many meals a day you cooked.

Attach your apprenticeship certificate if you have one. It decides your pay group. Photos of your dishes are a good extra.

What do I need to sort out before I start?

Address registration, health insurance registration, staff rooms, the regions with the most guests and unemployment benefit between seasons are explained in our guide “Seasonal work in Austria”.

How to find the job on enoono

  1. Create a free profile.
  2. Open the job list with the filter already set.
  3. Apply to the job that fits you.
Show matching jobs

Frequently asked questions

How much does a cook earn in Austria?

With an apprenticeship, from 1 October 2026 at least €2,232.00 gross per month in Tyrol, Salzburg and Vorarlberg, up to €2,330.00 depending on the federal state. Pro rata holiday and Christmas pay come on top.

How much does a kitchen helper earn?

Kitchen helpers with less than 10 years in the industry get at least €2,096.50 gross per month.

Does my cooking qualification from another country count?

The collective agreement requires an Austrian or equivalent recognised apprenticeship exam, or a vocational school of at least 3 years. Bring your certificate with a translation. Years as a qualified cook at other employers, including abroad, count for up to 3 years if you report them by your first working day.

When do hotels hire cooks for the season?

Before the winter season (November to April) and before the summer season (May to October).

Is overtime paid?

Yes. Under the collective agreement overtime gets a 50% supplement, paid in money unless agreed otherwise in writing.

Sources

Information without guarantee, as of October 2026