As with any position in a professional kitchen, the role of sous chef can be a particularly challenging job. Sous chefs work long hours assisting the head chef and co-leading the team, as well as partaking in their own cooking role. Working in a professional kitchen is no easy task. The hours are long, the wage is average, and the kitchens can become overheated and crowded depending on the size of the team. Not to mention, the pressure to consistently deliver high-quality food is an added stress on a sous chef, particularly if they are standing in for the head chef.