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Cook
Updated 3 July 2026
Quick answer
A cook in India earns ₹20,000–₹40,000 per month in 2026. Home cook (daily 2-meal, veg only) ₹8,000–₹15,000 per household; full-time cook ₹20,000–₹28,000/month; live-in cook ₹28,000–₹40,000+. Metros add 25–30%.
Cook earnings in India depend heavily on the arrangement. A part-time home cook doing two meals a day for one household earns ₹4,000–₹7,000/month from that household — but usually serves 3–5 households for a total of ₹15,000–₹28,000/month.
A full-time (non-live-in) cook working for one family for 8–10 hours a day earns ₹20,000–₹28,000/month at base city rates. Live-in cooks (staying with the family, cooking all meals) earn ₹28,000–₹40,000/month plus food and accommodation. Senior cooks with 8+ years of experience and speciality (regional cuisine, dietary needs, party catering skills) earn ₹40,000+/month.
Party/event cooks bill per event: ₹3,000–₹8,000 for a 20-person party (labour only, ingredients separate). A senior cook doing 8–10 events/month during the wedding/festival season easily clears ₹40,000–₹60,000.
Metros: Mumbai and Bangalore add ~30%. A live-in cook in Mumbai commonly earns ₹36,400–₹52,000/month.
Cook salary by experience level, India (2026)
| Experience | Monthly (₹) | Per-day rate (₹) | Typical work |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–1 year (apprentice) | ₹20,000–₹28,000 | 700–980 | Assists senior, learns on job |
| 1–3 years | ₹26,000–₹24,500 | 980–900 | Basic jobs independently |
| 3–7 years | ₹24,500–₹35,000 | 900–1275 | All standard jobs, some team lead |
| 7+ years (senior) | ₹35,000–₹40,000+ | 1275–1500+ | Complex jobs, contracts, own team |
Cook salary by city, India (2026)
| City | Junior (₹/month) | Mid-career (₹/month) | Senior (₹/month) | Per-day rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | ₹26,000–₹27,300 | ₹27,300–₹45,500 | ₹52,000+ | ₹910–₹1,950 |
| Delhi | ₹25,000–₹26,250 | ₹26,250–₹43,750 | ₹50,000+ | ₹875–₹1,875 |
| Bangalore | ₹26,000–₹27,300 | ₹27,300–₹45,500 | ₹52,000+ | ₹910–₹1,950 |
| Hyderabad | ₹23,000–₹24,150 | ₹24,150–₹40,250 | ₹46,000+ | ₹805–₹1,725 |
| Chennai | ₹23,000–₹24,150 | ₹24,150–₹40,250 | ₹46,000+ | ₹805–₹1,725 |
| Pune | ₹24,000–₹25,200 | ₹25,200–₹42,000 | ₹48,000+ | ₹840–₹1,800 |
| Kolkata | ₹20,000–₹21,000 | ₹21,000–₹35,000 | ₹40,000+ | ₹700–₹1,500 |
| Ahmedabad | ₹21,000–₹22,050 | ₹22,050–₹36,750 | ₹42,000+ | ₹735–₹1,575 |
| Jaipur | ₹19,000–₹19,950 | ₹19,950–₹33,250 | ₹38,000+ | ₹665–₹1,425 |
| Lucknow | ₹18,000–₹18,900 | ₹18,900–₹31,500 | ₹36,000+ | ₹630–₹1,350 |
| Chandigarh | ₹21,000–₹22,050 | ₹22,050–₹36,750 | ₹42,000+ | ₹735–₹1,575 |
| Indore | ₹18,000–₹18,900 | ₹18,900–₹31,500 | ₹36,000+ | ₹630–₹1,350 |
| Bhopal | ₹17,000–₹17,850 | ₹17,850–₹29,750 | ₹34,000+ | ₹595–₹1,275 |
| Patna | ₹17,000–₹17,850 | ₹17,850–₹29,750 | ₹34,000+ | ₹595–₹1,275 |
| Nagpur | ₹18,000–₹18,900 | ₹18,900–₹31,500 | ₹36,000+ | ₹630–₹1,350 |
| Kanpur | ₹17,000–₹17,850 | ₹17,850–₹29,750 | ₹34,000+ | ₹595–₹1,275 |
| Ranchi | ₹18,000–₹18,900 | ₹18,900–₹31,500 | ₹36,000+ | ₹630–₹1,350 |
| Coimbatore | ₹20,000–₹21,000 | ₹21,000–₹35,000 | ₹40,000+ | ₹700–₹1,500 |
| Vijayawada | ₹18,000–₹18,900 | ₹18,900–₹31,500 | ₹36,000+ | ₹630–₹1,350 |
Mumbai part-time cook (per household): ₹5,200–₹9,100/month. Full-time non-live-in: ₹26,000–₹36,400/month. Live-in: ₹36,400–₹52,000+/month.
₹3,000–₹8,000 for a 20-person party (labour only). Non-veg or elaborate menus at the higher end. Ingredients purchased separately by the client or reimbursed at cost.
Yes. Regional cuisine specialists (South Indian, Bengali, Rajasthani), dietary specialists (Jain, vegan, keto), and party catering cooks earn 30–50% more.
₹28,000–₹40,000/month cash + food + accommodation. Senior live-in cook in a metro: ₹40,000–₹60,000/month cash.
3–5 households at 1–2 hours each. Total monthly income across households: ₹15,000–₹28,000. Multi-household part-time model is standard in Indian metros.
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