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Chefs and Head Cooks: Job Description
Direct and may participate in the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. May plan and price menu items, order supplies, and keep records and accounts.
The Daily Work of Chefs and Head Cooks Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of chefs and head cooks include:
- Monitor sanitation practices to ensure that employees follow standards and regulations.
- Instruct cooks or other workers in the preparation, cooking, garnishing, or presentation of food.
- Supervise or coordinate activities of cooks or workers engaged in food preparation.
- Order or requisition food or other supplies needed to ensure efficient operation.
- Inspect supplies, equipment, or work areas to ensure conformance to established standards.
- Check the quantity and quality of received products.
- Check the quality of raw or cooked food products to ensure that standards are met.
- Estimate amounts and costs of required supplies, such as food and ingredients.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective chefs and head cooks combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Chefs and Head Cooks Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Baker
- Banquet Chef
- Bread and Pastry Baker
- Cake Froster
- Cake Icer
- Cake Maker
- Cake Mixer
- Certified Executive Chef (CEC)
Job Outlook
There are about 1,181,220 chefs and head cooks working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +12.5% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Chefs and Head Cooks
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $35,292 |
| Hourly median | $16.97 |
| 10th percentile | $24,411 |
| 25th percentile | $29,851 |
| 75th percentile | $40,732 |
| 90th percentile | $46,172 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Chefs and Head Cooks Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $81,200 |
| Rhode Island | $79,160 |
| North Dakota | $76,630 |
| District of Columbia | $74,000 |
| Massachusetts | $71,330 |
| Washington | $69,800 |
| New Jersey | $69,660 |
| California | $66,780 |
| Delaware | $65,290 |
| Wyoming | $64,790 |
| New York | $64,300 |
| Colorado | $63,990 |
| Vermont | $63,270 |
| Alabama | $62,670 |
| Connecticut | $62,540 |
| Maryland | $61,990 |
| Arizona | $61,950 |
| Virgin Islands | $61,930 |
| Illinois | $61,450 |
| South Carolina | $61,290 |
| West Virginia | $60,790 |
| Oregon | $60,270 |
| Wisconsin | $60,170 |
| North Carolina | $59,810 |
| Virginia | $59,780 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,630 |
| Florida | $59,580 |
| Tennessee | $59,470 |
| Minnesota | $59,430 |
| Missouri | $59,220 |
| Nevada | $58,590 |
| Michigan | $58,430 |
| New Hampshire | $58,400 |
| Nebraska | $58,390 |
| Kansas | $58,290 |
| Alaska | $57,610 |
| Indiana | $57,140 |
| Ohio | $56,700 |
| Maine | $55,860 |
| Montana | $55,650 |
| New Mexico | $55,170 |
| Oklahoma | $53,310 |
| Georgia | $51,630 |
| Texas | $51,050 |
| Idaho | $50,010 |
| Arkansas | $49,060 |
| South Dakota | $46,510 |
| Mississippi | $44,990 |
| Utah | $44,490 |
| Kentucky | $44,220 |
| Iowa | $43,690 |
| Guam | $39,390 |
| Louisiana | $38,340 |
| Puerto Rico | $36,190 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for chefs and head cooks vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $66,083 | 6.9% | 1.49 |
| Far Western US | $65,668 | 21.9% | 1.40 |
| Middle Atlantic | $64,625 | 18.7% | 1.28 |
| Great Lakes | $59,089 | 9.9% | 0.76 |
| Rocky Mountains | $57,637 | 4.0% | 1.06 |
| Southeast | $56,744 | 22.6% | 1.04 |
| Plains States | $55,255 | 3.6% | 0.56 |
| Southwest | $52,913 | 11.7% | 0.95 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Chefs and Head Cooks
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | HI | $87,410 | 160 |
| Morgantown, WV | WV | $87,280 | 60 |
| Terre Haute, IN | IN | $83,880 | 50 |
| Alexandria, LA | LA | $80,290 | 50 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | RI | $78,390 | 1,020 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $78,050 | 1,180 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $77,380 | 450 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $76,350 | 270 |
Top Industries Employing Chefs and Head Cooks
The largest employers of chefs and head cooks are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services | 142,030 | $60,580 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 12,060 | $68,070 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 8,780 | $57,350 |
| Educational Services | 4,110 | $52,040 |
| Retail Trade | 3,200 | $49,920 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1,970 | $63,700 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,920 | $72,670 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1,910 | $75,940 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Chefs and Head Cooks Use
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Google Sheets (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of chefs and head cooks is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Time Pressure
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
Education and Training
Most chefs and head cooks positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Food Service Managers (Primary-Short)
- Dietetic Technicians (Primary-Long)
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers (Primary-Long)
- Cooks, Fast Food (Supplemental)
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (Primary-Short)
- Cooks, Private Household (Primary-Short)
- Cooks, Restaurant (Primary-Short)
- Cooks, Short Order (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Future chefs and head cooks typically earn programs in:
Personal and Culinary Services
5 programs across 1 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 35-1011.00 (Chefs and Head Cooks).
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