Hospitality, Food & Tourism career

Chef

Also called: Head Chef · Executive Chef · Sous Chef · Head Cook

What chefs do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
What does a chef do?

Chefs and head cooks direct kitchen staff, plan menus, order supplies, control food costs and make sure every dish meets quality and food safety standards. The median pay is $62,470 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 2–5 years of kitchen experience, and employment is projected to grow +6.6% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

  • Median pay
    $62,470
    $30.03/hour · May 2025
  • Job growth
    +6.6%
    2025–35, faster than average
  • Openings per year
    25,200
    Average, 2025–35
  • Typical entry education
    High school diploma or equivalent
    BLS classification
  • Time to train
    2–5 years of kitchen experience
    Typical program length
  • U.S. jobs
    220,300
    Employment, 2025

What chefs do

Chefs run kitchens. They create and test recipes, plan menus, order ingredients, manage food and labor costs, train and schedule cooks, work the line during busy service and keep the kitchen clean and safe. In large kitchens an executive chef leads several sous chefs and station cooks; in smaller restaurants the head chef does a bit of everything.

Most chefs rise through the kitchen over years, starting as prep or line cooks, and many attend culinary school or apprenticeships. Food safety manager certification is standard, and American Culinary Federation credentials help. The work is creative and fast-paced, with long hours and real pressure.

Typical duties

  • Plan menus and develop recipes
  • Order and receive food and supplies
  • Supervise, train and schedule kitchen staff
  • Cook and expedite during service
  • Control food costs and reduce waste
  • Enforce food safety and sanitation
  • Maintain kitchen equipment and inventory

Work environment and schedule

Chefs work in hot, noisy, fast-paced kitchens in restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools and catering companies. The job involves long hours on your feet, sharp tools and hot equipment.

Schedule: Chefs often work evenings, weekends and holidays, with 50 or more hours a week common in restaurants. Institutional kitchens may have more regular hours.

A day in the life

  1. Check deliveries for quality and temperature and update the inventory.
  2. Review prep lists with sous chefs and taste sauces.
  3. Test a new seasonal dish and calculate its plate cost.
  4. Hold a pre-shift meeting on specials and allergens.

See a full day in the life of a chef →

Chef salary

Half of chefs earned more than $62,470 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $37,900 for the lowest 10% to $98,560 for the top 10%.

Full chef pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a chef

  1. Start in a kitchen
  2. Build skills on every station
  3. Consider culinary school
  4. Become a sous chef
  5. Lead a kitchen

Many chefs learn on the job over years; others attend culinary school or complete apprenticeships. Food protection manager certification, such as ServSafe Manager, is commonly required.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a chef →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

  • Cooking techniques
  • Menu planning
  • Food cost control
  • Kitchen management
  • Food safety

People skills

  • Leadership
  • Creativity
  • Composure under pressure
  • Communication

All chef skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Creative work with food
  • Leadership without a required degree
  • Every city has jobs
  • Path to owning a restaurant

Cons

  • Long hours, nights and weekends
  • Hot, stressful kitchens
  • Physically demanding
  • Tight margins and cost pressure

Certifications and licenses

  • ServSafe Food Protection Manager: Food safety manager certification required in many jurisdictions.
  • ACF Certified Sous Chef or Executive Chef: American Culinary Federation credentials.
  • Culinary school diploma or degree: Formal training in techniques and kitchen management.
  • Allergen awareness training: Training to prevent allergic reactions.

Career path

  1. Prep or Line Cook: Learn stations and techniques.
  2. Sous Chef: Lead shifts and train cooks.
  3. Head or Executive Chef: Run the kitchen and menu.
  4. Chef-Owner or Culinary Director: Own restaurants or lead multiple kitchens.

Learn the job before day one

Our Chef training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as cost out a menu item and run a pre-shift meeting, safety and how to land your first job.

View Chef trainingIs this career right for me?

Line Cook

Cook dishes to order on a busy restaurant line.

  • $37,390
  • 1–6 months on the job

Restaurant Manager

Run restaurants: guests, staff, food quality, safety and profits.

  • $69,390
  • 2–5 years of restaurant experience

Private Chef

Cook custom meals for families and clients in their homes.

  • $47,940
  • 1–3 years including experience

Baker

Mix, shape and bake breads, pastries and desserts.

  • $37,160
  • 1–12 months

Compare: Chef vs. Line Cook · Chef vs. Restaurant Manager · Chef vs. Private Chef · Chef vs. Baker

Chef FAQ

Do chefs need culinary school?

No. Many chefs learn on the job, though culinary school can speed things up.

How long does it take to become a chef?

Usually several years of kitchen experience.

What’s the difference between a chef and a cook?

Chefs plan menus and lead kitchens; cooks prepare food on stations.

How much does a chef make?

The median annual wage for chefs was $62,470 ($30.03 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $37,900 and the highest 10% earned more than $98,560.

How long does it take to become a chef?

Most people need about 2–5 years of kitchen experience of training. Many chefs learn on the job over years; others attend culinary school or complete apprenticeships. Food protection manager certification, such as ServSafe Manager, is commonly required.

Do you need a degree to be a chef?

No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “high school diploma or equivalent” as the typical entry-level education.

More chef questions →

Sources

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

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