Seasonal cook jobs in Austria: Alpine hotel brigades and lakeside restaurants

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What does a seasonal cook do in Austria?

In a resort hotel, the kitchen serves breakfast, a lunch menu and above all the evening half-board dinner, often four or five courses. Cooks prepare mise en place, run their station during service and follow strict hygiene and allergen rules that inspectors check regularly.

Which resorts and regions are hiring?

In winter, brigades grow in the Zillertal, Ötztal, Paznaun, Kitzbühel and the Arlberg in Tyrol, in Saalbach, Obertauern and Gastein in Salzburg province, in Lech and the Montafon in Vorarlberg, and around Schladming in Styria.

In summer, lakeside restaurants in Carinthia, the Salzkammergut and Tyrol need extra staff, as do mountain huts and alpine inns. Vienna and Salzburg also recruit for the peak tourist season and the summer festivals, which bring large numbers of visitors.

When do the seasons run?

The winter season starts in early December and ends at Easter, with contracts signed from September. The summer season runs from May or June to September or October. Many cooks combine both seasons with the same hotel group, which simplifies housing and paperwork.

Which positions and cuisine?

Vacancies range from commis and kitchen assistant to chef de partie, sous-chef and pastry cook. Menus mix Austrian classics such as Wiener Schnitzel, Tafelspitz, Kaiserschmarrn or Kasnocken with international dishes, and adverts often mention a rotating breakfast buffet shift.

Who can work as a seasonal cook in Austria?

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens work without a permit. A cooking qualification is not legally required, but it determines the pay group. An apprenticeship or equivalent foreign diploma is usually accepted by employers for classification as a qualified cook in the higher group.

How do third-country cooks get in?

Third-country nationals fall under the 2026 tourism quota: 5,500 basic places plus 2,500 for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. The quota may be exceeded by 50 percent during peak months to cover the busiest weeks.

The hotel applies to the AMS for a Beschäftigungsbewilligung at the earliest six weeks before hiring. The permit lasts up to six months, extendable to nine months within twelve, provided housing is suitable and pay at least matches the collective-agreement minimum.

What does Stammsaisonier status change?

After three seasons of at least three months within the last five calendar years, a cook can register with the AMS as a Stammsaisonier. Later permits are then issued outside the quota and without a labour-market test, making a return to the same employer much easier.

Which visa to apply for?

For contracts over 90 days, a D visa is requested in person at an Austrian embassy or consulate, presenting the AMS permit. Work may only start once it is issued; a multi-year C visa exists for regular seasonal workers with a good record.

How much does a seasonal cook earn?

Since 1 October 2026, an entry-level kitchen assistant in group 5 earns 2,096.50 euros gross a month. A qualified cook in group 3 earns 2,232 euros in Salzburg and 2,304 euros in Upper Austria, and a chef de partie in group 2 earns 2,440 and 2,542 euros respectively.

A head chef, in group 1, earns at least 2,713 euros in Salzburg and 2,760 euros in Upper Austria. These are minimums: resort hotels often pay more, and pro-rata 13th and 14th salaries are added, which significantly raises total seasonal earnings.

What are kitchen hours like?

The agreement is based on 40 hours a week, but split shifts are common: morning, an afternoon break, then evening service. Overtime carries a supplement, and night or public-holiday supplements must appear on the monthly payslip along with any deductions.

Are housing and meals included?

Most resort hotels house their cooks in staff buildings, in single or double rooms, and provide meals. Any deduction must be written into the contract and stay within the official benefit-in-kind values, so it is worth asking for the exact amount before signing.

Pay and documents table

How to secure a seasonal cook job

1. Prepare a German CV listing your qualification, past positions and cuisines you master.
2. Search AMS alle jobs and hospitality boards using Koch, Jungkoch or Commis.
3. Apply in September for winter and March for summer, across several valleys.
4. Prepare for a video interview, sometimes followed by a trial shift on site.
5. Confirm in writing the pay group, hours, split shifts and accommodation.
6. Third-country nationals wait for the AMS permit, then apply for the visa.
7. Arrive a few days before opening for hygiene and allergen training.

Mistakes to avoid

• Accepting kitchen-assistant classification when you hold a cook's qualification.
• Signing without knowing the deduction for board and lodging.
• Not recording your real hours, especially during split shifts.
• Answering adverts that demand payment to reserve a job or visa.
• Leaving without claiming unused leave and pro-rata bonuses.

Frequently asked questions

The following questions come up often among international cooks considering an Austrian season. The amounts quoted reflect the pay tables in force since October 2026 and can vary by province and by years of experience in the industry.

Is a foreign cooking diploma recognised?

A vocational cooking diploma from another country is in practice usually accepted by employers for group 3 classification. It helps to attach a German translation and employment certificates listing positions held and the duration of each job.

Do I need German in the kitchen?

Basic German is often enough at the start because brigades are international. Knowing German vocabulary for products and allergens makes the job easier, however, and becomes essential for chef de partie or sous-chef roles that involve ordering and team briefings.

Does real pay exceed the scale?

Often, yes. In high-demand resorts, hotels offer net pay above the minimums to attract qualified cooks. Compare offers in gross terms, check the housing deduction and factor in the 13th and 14th salaries before choosing between employers.

Can I combine winter and summer?

Yes, many hotels open for two seasons and rehire their cooks. For third-country nationals the total remains capped at nine months within twelve, unless they hold Stammsaisonier status, which makes successive returns to the same employer easier.