cook, how much an hour?

[Anonymous]

hi, I'm concidering hiring a cook for my family, he/she may also have to do the shopping, any idea of how much this service costs an hour?? help.thank you

[Anonymous]

$9.50

[Anonymous]

17.25

[Anonymous]

You should find out the distinction of the person (chef vs cook) so you don't offend. There's a difference between a chef and a cook.

Will the chef/cook be living with you?
Will he/she be cooking every meal?

http://www.departures.com/articles/home-cooking
You should really read that article. It's long, but it gives some wonderful advice & tips.
I'll break some of it down:

Live in:
-living quarters (often the equivalent of a small apartment, not just a room)
-board
-sometimes the use of a car.
-paid more
-more is demanded of them

-expected to prepare all three meals six or seven days a week
-be on call at other times
-travel with the household.

standard week for either type of chef:
-Tuesday to Saturday or
-Wednesday to Sunday
-some employers prefer Monday through Friday and pay overtime for weekends.

Costs:

Salary:
-normal range is from $25,000 to $100,000 annually
-average private chef makes $35,000-$40,000
-Paier of Private Chefs, Inc., says he tells potential employers to "expect to spend at least $1,000 a week on a chef," and his minimum is $900 ($46,800 annually)
-If you want a chef to work irregular hours, prepare two or three meals daily for five or six days each week, or be on call at all times, it can cost you $50,000 or more

Once you've found a chef who seems to match your requirements, there are eight steps to follow.
-Conduct formal interviews
-Do background checks
-Articulate your requirements
-Look for warning signs
-Test the chef's skills (pay $20/hr plus cost of ingredients for a test meal)
-Set a period of probation
-Seal the deal
-Draw up a confidentiality agreement

Live-in positions usually include living quarters and board (which combined can cost employers an extra $10,000), two to three weeks' paid vacation, benefits, and sometimes use of a car. Live-out positions often include two to three weeks' paid vacation and benefits, especially at the higher levels. Taxes and benefits for both positions can add on $10,000 to $15,000 to the annual cost of a private chef.

Low Level
Requirements: Recent culinary school graduates; some restaurant or catering experience.
Salary: $25,000-$35,000

Medium Level
Requirements: Five to 10 years of experience in private households; good references.
Salary: $40,000-$65,000

High Level
Requirements: Ten to 20 years of experience in private households, star restaurants, or top corporate positions; excellent references.
Salary: $70,000-$130,000

The article I linked you to also has agencies that can set you up with a private chef if you're not sure where to start.

[Anonymous]

A friend of mine is a personal chef that specializes in cooking family meals for the entire week. She does the shopping, comes to your home, cooks, and leaves. For 20 meals (5 nights for a family of 4) she charges about $300 + groceries.