Cook salary in Uzbekistan (2026)
Cooks in Uzbekistan are advertised a median of about 5 million som per month nationally (gorodrabot.uz, January–June 2026), rising to roughly 6.8 million on average in Tashkent. That sits below the national average wage of 7.09 million, and close to the official average for accommodation and food services, 5.33 million. The single biggest step up is the job title above yours: a head chef’s median is 10 million — almost exactly double.
What cooks are paid
The median advertised salary for a cook is about 5 million som per month across Uzbekistan (gorodrabot.uz reports 4,964,167 for January–June 2026 and 5,142,500 for June alone), with the most common single figure at 4 million. In Tashkent the average advertised salary is about 6.8 million across 137 listings, from 3.5 to 10 million — roughly a third more than the national picture, which is the usual Tashkent premium.
The official cross-check is the accommodation and food services sector, which averaged 5,331,900 som. That figure is for January–March 2026: the January–June release does not break this sector out, so it is one quarter behind the sector numbers quoted elsewhere on this site. It is also an average across the whole sector — hotel staff and managers included — so treat it as corroboration of the 5 million range, not as a cook’s salary.
Head chef roughly doubles it
The clearest way to earn more in this job is the step to head chef. The median advertised salary for a шеф-повар is 10 million som per month, with an average of 12.4 million — about twice a cook’s median, and above the national average wage. Advertised cooking roles overall span 2.5 million to 21 million (hh.uz data, July 2026), and that top end is head-chef and executive-chef territory, not line cooking.
Check whether the figure is per month or per shift
Kitchen work is often advertised per shift rather than per month — commonly 200,000 to 400,000 som a shift. What that adds up to depends entirely on the schedule, and a 2/2 rota is a very different month from six days a week. Multiply the shift rate by the actual number of shifts before comparing it with a monthly offer; the two are quoted side by side in the same search results.
Some Tashkent listings, mainly at international hotels and restaurants, quote in US dollars instead. Those are usually senior roles and sit at the top of the range.
What moves a cook’s pay
- the step to su-chef and then head chef — the largest single jump
- venue type: canteen and fast food at the bottom, restaurants and hotels at the top
- city — Tashkent averages roughly a third above the national figure
- cuisine specialisation, and whether you can run a section unsupervised
- shift pattern, and whether meals and transport are included
Compare live offers
Kitchen pay depends on the venue more than the title: hospitality vacancies with salaries on Flexa.
How much does a cook earn in Uzbekistan?
The median advertised salary is about 5 million som per month nationally (gorodrabot.uz, January–June 2026) and about 6.8 million on average in Tashkent. The official accommodation and food services average is 5.33 million (Q1 2026).
How much does a head chef earn in Uzbekistan?
The median advertised salary for a head chef is 10 million som per month, with an average of 12.4 million — roughly double a cook’s median and above the national average wage of 7.09 million.
Why are some cook vacancies advertised per shift?
Shift pay is normal in kitchens, commonly 200,000–400,000 som per shift. The monthly total depends on the rota, so multiply by the actual number of shifts before comparing with a monthly salary.
See real salaries in live vacancies on Flexa.
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