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.
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What Do Chefs and Head Cooks Do?
The core tasks performed by chefs and head cooks span:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Top chefs and head cooks draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Chefs and Head Cooks Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- 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. This occupation is expected 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 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Chefs and Head Cooks Make in Different U.S. States?
| 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 |
Where Chefs and Head Cooks Earn the Most
Compensation for chefs and head cooks vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| 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 |
Top Metro Areas
| 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 bulk 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 |
Chefs and Head Cooks work in the following industries:
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
Daily working conditions for 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
Entry-level 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), signaling 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)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for chefs and head cooks often complete programs in:
Personal and Culinary Services
5 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on 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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