Chef Salary

Have a passion for cooking? Are you creative and like to serve people? Why not take these two passions and become a chef? Read on for more details…………

Nature of the Work

Chefs, head cooks, and food preparation and serving supervisors oversee the daily food service operation of a restaurant or other food service establishment. Chefs and head cooks are usually responsible for directing cooks in the kitchen, dealing with food-related concerns, and providing leadership. They are also the most skilled cooks in the kitchen and use their creativity and knowledge of food to develop and prepare recipes.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

Many experienced workers with less education can still be promoted but most chefs, head cooks, and food preparation and serving supervisors have some postsecondary training. Community colleges, technical schools and culinary arts schools offer a 2-year or 4-year college course with a degree in hospitality. Some large hotels and restaurants also operate their own training and job-placement programs for chefs and head cooks and executive chefs, head cooks, and sous chefs who work in fine-dining restaurants require many years of training and experience. The American Culinary Federation, based on experience and formal training, certifies pastry professionals. Although certification is not required, it can help to prove accomplishment and lead to advancement and higher-paying positions.

Employment

With a growing population and a demand for convenience and speed in food preparations, chefs have grown in demand. Chefs, head cooks, and food preparation and serving supervisors held 941,600 jobs in 2008. Food preparation and serving supervisors held 88 percent of these jobs and chefs and head cooks held the remaining 12 percent.

Job Outlook & Projections

With growth in population, a growing variety of dining venues and continued demand for convenience, restaurants and chefs are in demand. Employment of chefs, head cooks, and food preparation and serving supervisors is expected to increase by 6 percent over the 2008-18 decade, which is more slowly than the average for all occupations. Job openings for chefs, head cooks, and food preparation and serving supervisors are expected to be good through 2018; however, competition should be keen for jobs at the more upscale restaurants that tend to pay more.

Earnings & Wages

Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics – “Median annual wage-and-salary earnings of chefs and head cooks were $38,770 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $29,050 and $51,540. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,120, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $66,680. Median annual wages in May 2008 in the industries employing the largest number of chefs and head cooks were:

Median annual wage-and-salary earnings of food preparation and serving supervisors were $28,970 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $22,530 and $37,290. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $18,530, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $46,810. Median annual wages in May 2008 were $32,560 in full-service restaurants and $25,420 in limited-service eating places, the industries employing the largest numbers of food preparation and serving supervisors.“

Related Occupations include:

• Cooks and food preparation workers
• Food Processing Occupations
• Food and beverage serving and related workers
• Food service managers

Sources of Additional Information

Please check the Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov.