Home Cook jobs in Melbourne, VIC typically pay A$27–A$45 an hour (about A$4,650–A$7,800 a month full time). Live-in positions are common, with a usual schedule of 5–6 days a week, split around mealtimes. Employers ask for proven experience cooking for a household and a national police check and. Register with AvailJob to be matched with families hiring in Melbourne.
- Typical pay
- A$27–A$45
- per hour
- Full-time monthly
- A$4,650–A$7,800
- about 40 hours a week
- Live-in
- Common
- accommodation provided
- Schedule
- 5–6 days a week
- split around mealtimes
- Open now
- 0
- register to be matched
Open home cook positions in Melbourne
No open position is listed for Melbourne today. New home cook jobs are added as families hire. Register once and we will match you to the next opening near you.
Register as a Home CookAbout home cook jobs in Melbourne
Working as a home cook in Melbourne, VIC means joining a private household. The home cook prepares daily home-style meals for a family, plans menus and keeps the kitchen clean and stocked, and families across Greater Melbourne hire for this role all year round.
Melbourne is known for healthcare, education, technology, and advanced manufacturing, and many of the families who hire domestic staff here work for employers such as ANZ, NAB, Telstra, Monash Health, CSL, and the University of Melbourne. Melbourne's Parkville precinct is one of the largest biomedical research concentrations in the Southern Hemisphere.
Main duties
- Plan weekly menus around the family’s tastes and diets
- Cook breakfast, lunch and dinner on schedule
- Shop for groceries within a set budget
- Keep the kitchen, fridge and pantry clean and organised
- Prepare packed lunches and snacks
Home Cook pay in Melbourne
Household incomes in Melbourne are shaped by an average local salary of around A$92,000, which is why home cook pay here sits above the Australia average. Pay rises with experience, references, live-in flexibility and extra duties such as driving or cooking.
Indicative ranges for 2026 based on local salary levels and published household pay; individual offers vary.
A day as a home cook
- 7:00Breakfast service
- 9:30Shopping & prep
- 12:30Lunch
- 15:00Batch cooking
- 18:30Dinner & clean-down
Why work in Melbourne?
The local job market is growing at 3.7% annually, so demand for reliable household staff keeps rising as more dual-income families move to Melbourne.
Melbourne is often described as “Medical Research and Education Capital”, and its households expect a professional standard of service.
Requirements
What families ask for
- Proven experience cooking for a household
- Food safety knowledge
- References from previous families
- Ability to cook several cuisines
Working in Australia
- Right to work in Australia: Workers must hold a visa with work rights; check eligibility through the government’s VEVO service.
- Checks: employers usually ask for a national police check and, for roles with children, a state Working With Children Check; NDIS worker screening applies to some disability support roles.
- Minimum pay: wages must meet the national minimum wage or the applicable award rate.
- Contract: A written agreement covering hours, pay rates, penalty rates and leave is strongly recommended.
Live-in or live-out?
Live-in home cook roles in Melbourne normally include a private room and meals; the value of board is sometimes deducted from pay, so compare offers on the total package. Live-out roles pay the full hourly rate, and families often add travel costs for early starts.
How to get hired
- Register
Create your profile with your home cook experience, availability and references.
- Verification
Complete Australia right-to-work and background checks.
- Interview & trial
Meet the family and work a short, paid trial day.
- Contract & start
Agree pay, hours and leave in writing before you start.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a home cook earn in Melbourne, VIC?
Home Cook jobs in Melbourne, VIC typically pay A$27–A$45 an hour (about A$4,650–A$7,800 a month full time). Experience, live-in arrangements, hours and extra duties move pay within this range.
Are there live-in home cook jobs in Melbourne?
Live-in positions are common. Live-in home cook roles in Melbourne normally include a private room and meals; the value of board is sometimes deducted from pay, so compare offers on the total package.
What do I need to work as a home cook in Australia?
Employers ask for proven experience cooking for a household, food safety knowledge and a national police check and. You must also have the right to work in Australia.
What does a home cook do day to day?
A home cook prepares daily home-style meals for a family, plans menus and keeps the kitchen clean and stocked. Typical duties include plan weekly menus around the family’s tastes and diets, cook breakfast, lunch and dinner on schedule, shop for groceries within a set budget.
How do I apply for home cook jobs in Melbourne on AvailJob?
Register your profile with your experience, availability and references. When a family in Melbourne hires for this role, you are matched and contacted.
What hours does a home cook work?
A typical schedule is 5–6 days a week, split around mealtimes. Hours, days off and overtime should be written into your contract.