Chefs & Head Cooks

Also Called: Certified Executive Chef (CEC), Chef, Executive Chef (Ex Chef), Executive Sous Chef

Associate's Degree

usually needed

Not Available
(Students Only)
Match Percentage

$36,040

Entry Salary

Bright

Job outlook

What Chefs & Head Cooks do

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.

  • Monitor sanitation practices to ensure that employees follow standards and regulations.
  • 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.
Industry Areas:

Hospitality

Training Program Areas:

Culinary Arts • OCT-Only Hospitality

Expand For Additional Details

Work Context

  • Face-to-Face Discussions
  • Duration of Typical Work Week
  • Telephone
  • Time Pressure
  • Electronic Mail

Tools

  • Commercial use cutlery
  • Commercial use ranges
  • Commercial use graters
  • Commercial use food slicers
  • Domestic kitchen or food thermometers

Technology

Spreadsheet software
Google spreadsheet
Microsoft Excel
Instant messaging software
GroupMe
Data base user interface and query software
Culinary Software Services ChefTec
ReServe Interactive

The Education & Training You Need

Skills

  • Monitoring
  • Coordination
  • Speaking
  • Management of Personnel Resources
  • Social Perceptiveness

Knowledge

Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
food production
manufacture and distribution of products
Business
customer service
management
Education and Training
teaching and course design
Math and Science
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Education

  • 44% Associate's degree
  • 22% Post-secondary certificate
  • 11% High school diploma or equivalent

Experience

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

What are some related occupations at different educational levels?


Job Training Match

Food Service Managers

Educational Level

High School Diploma or Equivalent

 Job Training Match

Cooks, Private Household

Educational Level

Post-secondary, non-degree

 Job Training Match

Chefs & Head Cooks Currently Selected

Educational Level

Associate's Degree

Industrial Production Managers

Educational Level

Bachelor's Degree

Educational Level

Advanced Degree

What are your training options on the pathway to this occupation?

Advanced Training

  • Earle C. Clements - Job Corps

    Morganfield, Kentucky

  • Exeter - Job Corps

    Exeter, Rhode Island

ACT & College

  • Academy of Careers and Technology

    Beckley, WV

  • Acadiana Technical College-Lafayette Campus

    Lafayette, LA

Apprenticeships

Earn while you learn. Apprenticeships combines paid training & specialized classes to help workers enter highly skilled occupations. Click here for to locate an apprenticeship near you.

Military

The Military offers exciting career opportunities that align with your interests. Click here to explore military careers and find a recruiter near you.

Are You a Good Fit?

Occupation Traits

    • Artistic (Creator)
    • Enterprising (Persuader)
    • Realistic (Doer)

Work Styles

  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Integrity
  • Initiative

Values

  • Independence
  • Recognition
  • Achievement

Abilities

  • Verbal
  • Ideas and Logic
  • Math
  • Hand and Finger Use

This is what Chefs & Head Cooks across the country typically make.

$17.33 / hour
$36,040 /year

Entry Level

$28.33 / hour
$58,920 /year

Median Level

$45.14 / hour
$93,900 /year

Experienced Level

Income information reflects a regional average.
Income information reflects a national average.

This career’s National Job Outlook is

Bright

Please be sure to verify the outlook of this occupation with your instructor.

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