Chef Salary Guide: How Much Do Chefs Earn at Different Career Levels?

Whether you’re opening your restaurant’s doors for the first time, searching for the perfect addition to your kitchen, or you’re a chef looking for your next opportunity, it’s time to get some insight into chef salary ranges and roles. Finding out the average chef salary and what they’re paid at different career levels can help you structure—or negotiate—offers to help everyone bring everything they can to the table.

What is the average chef salary?

The average chef salary can vary widely by role, with the highest-paid executive chefs earning around $100,000 and the lowest-paid line cooks earning just under $42,000 annually, according to the National Restaurant Association (NRA). But to find the right fit, you may want a clearer picture of the most common chef roles and the most competitive salary ranges for your market. Traditional hierarchies that structure many kitchens typically highlight three main roles: the leading executive chef, the second-in-command sous chef, and multiple head line cooks (chefs de partie).

Average executive chef pay rate

Executive chefs lead every operation a kitchen undertakes, plan all the menus, and carefully select every ingredient the kitchen needs—so they’re usually the highest-paid staff member. The NRA reports that most executive chef salaries currently range from $75,008-$100,096. But restaurants may offer a higher or lower salary based on the chef’s experience and education.

Average sous chef pay rate

As the executive chef’s right hand, the sous chef manages the kitchen—that can mean cooking and menu development, plus scheduling shifts, enforcing safety codes, training new staff, managing the kitchen team, and even organizing payroll. Per the NRA, sous chef salaries can range between $51,968-$75,008, depending on the experience and training they bring to the kitchen.

Average head line cook pay rate

While head line cooks may sit at the lowest end of the chef hierarchy, they’re critical to the kitchen’s success as they produce dishes at specific stations and work to perfect speed and consistency. The NRA lists average line cook salaries in a wide range, from approximately $41,600 to $72,576, depending on their qualifications and the organization of your kitchen.

What’s a competitive executive chef pay rate for your restaurant?

You may be asking yourself how chef compensation packages should be structured to attract experienced people without exceeding a labor budget—but you’re unique, and so is the restaurant, so there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
Many operators may start with these general steps:

1. Number crunching: Narrowing down how much comes in and goes out of the restaurant each year and estimating how much the business can afford to pay someone, and whether benefits can be provided.
2. Researching competitors: Asking around and finding out what the operator’s competitors pay their chefs and what benefits they offer.
3. Creating a package: Based on the research, operators may be able to reduce their salary offer by adding more worthwhile benefits, or they can turn the competition up a notch and offer larger compensation with more benefits, or even a bonus clause.
4. Advertising the offer: From local job boards to social media, operators can promote their openings to alert potential talent.

What benefits help attract chefs?

If operators are unsure if their offer will attract the right person, they may ask themselves what benefits they can offer without increasing payroll. Wine Enthusiast points out that poor mental health is one of the most common chef pain points, so the best benefits may help offset that through:

• Mental health services: Work-related mental health issues are one of the biggest obstacles for restaurant workers, so free or subsidized counseling and therapy packages could be a huge draw for the right candidate.
• Paid time off: It could be paid vacation time, an annual travel stipend, sick time, or a four-day workweek that helps a chef choose one restaurant over their competitors.
• Wellness perks: Some restaurants may offer free yoga, gym memberships, educational programs, employee meal discounts, or dedicated staff meals to attract and care for their employees.

These types of benefits could give any offer the edge it needs to appeal to an in-demand chef. Of course, there’s always profit sharing, retirement planning, or full health insurance bundles, but comprehensive packages like these aren’t super common in the hospitality industry just yet. Restaurants can also consider giving their chefs creative freedom to express themselves and expand their art form.

Frequently asked questions

How do tipped vs. non-tipped kitchen compensation models work?

Tipped models usually mean paychecks below minimum wage, with tips making up the difference, while non-tipped models typically mean employees receive at least minimum wage, removing a reliance on tips.

Do tipped or non-tipped compensation models support better retention?

Both methods may work well for restaurants and their staff. But recent research from the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management shows that eliminating the tip model and paying at least the full minimum wage may be better for improving both turnover rates and the work environment.

Can a profitable restaurant sustain a six-figure executive chef salary?

A profitable restaurant could pay its executive chef a six-figure salary, but its annual revenue would have to amount to much more than $100,000. Typically, the highest-earning chefs can reach into the high nineties at independent restaurants. And while paying someone well above $100,000 isn’t unheard of, especially in the case of private chefs, it would be out of the norm for most new or small restaurants.

What are the salary differences between corporate chefs and independent restaurant chefs?

The Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts points out that chefs in corporate operations (food research, cruise ships, food styling, large-scale catering businesses) may have higher base salary expectations than those in independent restaurants. However, any one candidate’s exact salary expectations can vary depending on their location and experience, along with your overall offer.

The takeaway

Leading executive chefs, their second-in-command sous chefs, and their line cooks are three common chef roles. Each is integral to any kitchen team’s success, and their salaries can fall beneath $42,000 or rise to six figures or more, depending on their experience, role, and location. Operators can attract the seasoned chef of their choice with a competitive salary and a benefits package that supports a healthy work-life balance.