### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Chefs and Head Cooks Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			chefs and head cooks imageChefs direct kitchen staff in restaurants.							
						Quick Facts:     Chefs and Head Cooks2023     Median Pay
            						$58,920     per year
										$28.33     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    High school diploma or equivalentWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    5 years or moreOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    174,400Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    5% (Faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    9,200What Chefs and Head Cooks Do
                                                
                        
                        
Chefs and head cooks oversee the daily food preparation at restaurants and other places where food is served.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Chefs and head cooks work in restaurants, hotels, and other food service establishments. They often work early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays. The work can be hectic and fast-paced. Most chefs and head cooks work full time.
            
                                                How to Become a Chef or Head Cook
                                                
                        
Chefs and head cooks typically need a high school diploma and work experience to enter the occupation. Some attend a culinary program at a community college, technical school, culinary arts school, or 4-year college. Others learn through apprenticeship programs.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for chefs and head cooks was $58,920 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of chefs and head cooks is projected to grow							 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 22,000 openings for chefs and head cooks are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for chefs and head cooks.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of chefs and head cooks with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about chefs and head cooks by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Chefs and Head Cooks Do 
            

			Chefs and head cooksChefs plan menus and order supplies.			
Chefs and head cooks oversee the daily food preparation at restaurants and other places where food is served. They direct kitchen staff and handle any food-related concerns.
Duties
Chefs and head cooks typically do the following:
Check the freshness of food and ingredients
Supervise and coordinate activities of cooks and other food preparation workers
Develop recipes and determine how to present dishes
Plan menus and ensure the quality of meals
Inspect supplies, equipment, and work areas for cleanliness and functionality
Hire, train, and supervise cooks and other food preparation workers
Order and maintain an inventory of food and supplies
Monitor sanitation practices and follow kitchen safety standardsChefs and head cooks use a variety of kitchen and cooking equipment, including step-in coolers, high-quality knives, meat slicers, and grinders. They also have access to large quantities of meats, spices, and produce. Some chefs use scheduling and purchasing software to help them in their administrative tasks.
Chefs who run their own restaurant or catering business are often busy with kitchen and office work. Some chefs use social media to promote their business by advertising new menu items or addressing patrons' reviews.
The following are examples of types of chefs and head cooks:
***Executive chefs, head cooks, and chefs de cuisine*** are responsible primarily for overseeing the operation of a kitchen. They coordinate the work of sous chefs and other cooks, who prepare most of the meals. Executive chefs also have many duties beyond the kitchen. They design the menu, review food and beverage purchases, and often train cooks and other food preparation workers. Some executive chefs primarily handle administrative tasks and may spend less time in the kitchen.
***Sous chefs*** are a kitchen’s second-in-command. They supervise the restaurant’s cooks, prepare meals, and report results to the head chefs. In the absence of the head chef, sous chefs run the kitchen.
 Work Environment
			Chefs and head cooksChefs and head cooks must stand for long periods.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Chefs and head cooks held about 174,400 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of chefs and head cooks were as follows:
        Restaurants and other eating places
                51%Special food services
                11Traveler accommodation
                9Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries
                6Self-employed workers
                4Chefs and head cooks work in restaurants, hotels, and other food service establishments. All of the cooking and food preparation areas in these facilities must be kept clean and sanitary. Chefs and head cooks usually stand for long periods and work in a fast-paced environment.
Some self-employed chefs run their own restaurants or catering businesses, and their work may be more stressful. For example, outside the kitchen, they often spend many hours managing all aspects of the business to ensure that bills and salaries are paid and that the business is profitable.
Injuries and Illnesses
Chefs and head cooks risk injury in kitchens, which are usually crowded and potentially dangerous. Common hazards include burns from hot ovens, falls on slippery floors, and cuts from knives and other sharp objects, but these injuries are seldom serious. To reduce the risk of harm, workers often wear long-sleeve shirts and nonslip shoes.
Work Schedules
Most chefs and head cooks work full time, including early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays. Some work more than 40 hours per week.
 How to Become a Chef or Head Cook

			chefs and head cooks imageMost chefs and head cooks learn their skills through work experience.			
To enter the occupation, chefs and head cooks typically need a high school diploma plus experience. Some attend a culinary program at a community college, technical school, culinary arts school, or 4-year college. Others learn through apprenticeship programs or in the Armed Forces.
Education
Chefs and head cooks are typically required to have a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the occupation. Although they are not always required to have postsecondary education, many attend programs at community colleges, technical schools, culinary arts schools, and 4-year colleges.
Students in culinary programs spend most of their time in kitchens, practicing their cooking skills. Programs cover all aspects of kitchen work, including menu planning, food sanitation procedures, and purchasing and inventory methods. Most programs also require students to gain experience in a commercial kitchen through an internship or apprenticeship program.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
Chefs and head cooks often start by working in other positions, such as line cooks, learning cooking skills from the chefs they work for. Many spend years working in kitchens before gaining enough experience to be promoted to chef or head cook positions.
Training
Some chefs and head cooks train on the job, where they learn the same skills as in a formal education program. Some train in mentorship programs, where they work under the direction of an experienced chef. Executive chefs, head cooks, and sous chefs who work in upscale restaurants often have many years of training and experience.
Chefs and head cooks also may learn through apprenticeship programs sponsored by professional culinary institutes, industry associations, or trade unions. The American Culinary Federation accredits many training programs and sponsors apprenticeships through these programs. Some of the apprenticeship programs are registered with the U.S. Department of Labor.
Apprenticeship programs generally combine instruction and on-the-job training. Apprentices typically receive both instruction and paid on-the-job training. Instruction usually covers food sanitation and safety, basic knife skills, and equipment operation. Apprentices spend the rest of their training learning practical skills in a commercial kitchen under a chef’s supervision.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Some states and localities require chefs and head cooks to have a food handler’s certification. For more information, contact your state or local licensing board.
Although not required, other types of certification may lead to advancement and higher pay. The American Culinary Federation certifies various levels of chefs, such as certified sous chefs and certified executive chefs. Certification standards are based primarily on work experience and formal training.
Important Qualities
***Business skills.*** Executive chefs and chefs who run their own restaurant need to know how to budget for supplies, set prices, and manage workers so that the restaurant is profitable.
***Communication skills.*** Chefs must convey their instructions clearly and effectively to staff so that patrons' orders are prepared correctly.
***Creativity.*** Chefs and head cooks need to develop and prepare interesting and innovative recipes.
***Dexterity.*** Chefs and head cooks need agility to handle knives properly for cutting, chopping, and dicing.
***Leadership skills.*** Chefs and head cooks must be able to motivate kitchen staff and to develop constructive and cooperative working relationships.
***Physical stamina.*** Chefs and head cooks often work long shifts and sometimes spend entire evenings on their feet, overseeing the preparation and serving of meals.
***Sense of taste and smell.*** Chefs and head cooks must have a keen sense of taste and smell in order to inspect food quality and to design meals that their patrons will enjoy.
***Time-management skills.*** Chefs and head cooks must ensure efficiency in meal preparation and service, especially during busy hours.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Chefs and Head CooksMedian annual wages, May 2023Chefs and head cooks$58,920  Total, all occupations$48,060  Supervisors of food preparation and serving workers$40,950Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for chefs and head cooks was $58,920 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $36,040, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $93,900.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for chefs and head cooks in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries
                $66,310Traveler accommodation
                65,970Special food services
                63,210Restaurants and other eating places
                55,180The level of pay for chefs and head cooks varies by region and employer. Pay is usually highest in upscale restaurants and hotels, where many executive chefs work, as well as in major metropolitan and resort areas.
Most chefs and head cooks work full time and often work early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays. Some work more than 40 hours per week.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
               Chefs and Head CooksPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Chefs and head cooks5%  Supervisors of food preparation and serving workers5%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of chefs and head cooks is projected to grow				 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 22,000 openings for chefs and head cooks are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Income growth is expected to result in greater demand for high-quality dishes at a variety of dining venues. As a result, more restaurants and other dining places are expected to open to satisfy consumer desire for dining out.
Consumers are continuing to demand healthier meals made from scratch in restaurants, cafeterias, grocery stores, and other places that sell food. To ensure high-quality dishes, these establishments hire experienced chefs to oversee food preparation.
			

                        Employment projections data for     chefs and head cooks, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Chefs and head cooks**
			35-1011
			174,400
			183,600
			5
			9,200
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Chefs and head cooks **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of chefs and head cooks. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Bakers**
            Bakers mix ingredients according to recipes in order to make breads, pastries, and other baked goods.
            No formal educational credential
            $34,950**Cooks**
            Cooks season and prepare foods, including soups, salads, entrees, and desserts.
            See How to Become One
            $34,320**Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers**
            Food and beverage serving and related workers take and prepare orders, clear tables, and do other tasks associated with providing food and drink to customers.
            No formal educational credential
            $29,710**Food Preparation Workers**
            Food preparation workers perform a variety of tasks other than cooking, such as slicing meat and brewing coffee.
            No formal educational credential
            $32,420**Food Service Managers**
            Food service managers are responsible for the daily operation of restaurants or other establishments that prepare and serve food and beverages.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $63,060
 Contacts for More Information
								
Visit Apprenticeship.gov to search for information about apprenticeship opportunities.
For more information about chefs, including a directory of 2-year and 4-year colleges that offer culinary courses or training programs, visit
American Culinary Federation
National Restaurant Association
For information about certification, contact your state or local licensing board or a professional association.
CareerOneStop
For a career video on chefs and head cooks, visit
Chefs and Head Cooks

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Chefs and Head Cooks
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Chefs and Head Cooks, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/food-preparation-and-serving/chefs-and-head-cooks.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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