Chef Salary, Skills & Requirements (2026)
Advertised pay, starting pay, skills and experience from 9,444 US job postings by 2,123 employers. Data as of October 2026.
What US employers post for chefs: advertised pay, the skills and experience they ask for, and the job titles they use, from 9,444 open job postings (October 2026).
- The median advertised pay for chefs in US job postings is $60,000 a year (2,398 postings from 492 employers, October 2026).
- The middle half of those postings offer $47,000 to $76,000.
- Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $49,000 a year (293 postings).
- The skills that most set chef postings apart are leadership, food preparation, food safety.
- Postings that state a minimum ask for a median of 2 years of experience.
Chef job postings in the US, October 2026
- $60,000
- Median advertised pay (2,398 postings)
- $47,000–$76,000
- Middle 50% of postings
- $49,000
- Starting pay (postings asking up to 1 year)
- 9,444
- US job postings from 2,123 employers
How much does a chef make?
The median advertised pay is $60,000 a year, from 2,398 US job postings by 492 employers that state pay. One in ten postings offers $100,000 or more.
Advertised pay in 2,398 US chef job postings: median $60,000 a year, middle half $47,000 to $76,000.
- Median: $60,000
- 25th percentile: $47,000
- 75th percentile: $76,000
The figures as a table
| Annual pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| $20K–$30K | 0.4% |
| $30K–$40K | 9.7% |
| $40K–$50K | 20.1% |
| $50K–$60K | 19.0% |
| $60K–$70K | 16.2% |
| $70K–$80K | 13.0% |
| $80K–$90K | 8.4% |
| $90K–$100K | 2.3% |
| $100K–$110K | 4.6% |
| $110K–$120K | 2.3% |
| $120K–$130K | 0.5% |
| $130K–$140K | 0.8% |
| $140K–$150K | 0.3% |
| $150K–$160K | 0.4% |
| $160K–$170K | 0.4% |
| $170K–$180K | 0.1% |
| $180K–$190K | 0.2% |
| $190K–$200K | 0.1% |
| $200K–$210K | 0.1% |
| $260K–$270K | 0.1% |
Midpoint of each posting's pay range, hourly pay × 2,080 hours; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
| Median | Middle 50% | Postings | Most common titles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postings that state an hourly rate | $22.50 | $19.60–$26.00 | 642 | Sous Chef, Chef, Kitchen Manager |
| Postings that state an annual salary | $73,000 | $64K–$86K | 723 | Sous Chef, Executive Chef, Kitchen Manager |
| All pay postings, annualised | $60,000 | $47K–$76K | 2,398 | – |
For comparison, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the national median annual wage of Chefs and Head Cooks (35-1011) at $62,000 (May 2025). Postings advertise pay; the BLS measures what people earn, across all employers and levels.
What is the starting salary for a chef?
Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $49,000 a year (293 postings).
| Experience asked | Median advertised pay | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1 years | $49,000 | 293 |
| 2-4 years | $66,000 | 869 |
| 5+ years | $82,000 | 255 |
Highest-paying chef jobs
Specializations with at least 250 postings that state pay.
| Specialization | Median pay | Postings with pay | Employers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Chef | $85,000 | 469 | 141 |
| Sous Chef | $63,000 | 718 | 196 |
| Chef (general) | $60,000 | 341 | 117 |
| Kitchen Manager | $49,000 | 732 | 160 |
Chef pay by state
Single-location US postings; states with at least 100 postings that state pay. States with pay-transparency laws (such as California, Colorado, New York and Washington) are over-represented among postings that state pay.
| State | Median pay | Middle 50% | Postings with pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $73,000 | $56,000–$90,000 | 245 | 8.3% |
| New York | $67,000 | $48,000–$82,000 | 243 | 7.0% |
| Illinois | $65,000 | $56,000–$74,000 | 148 | 4.4% |
| Texas | $51,000 | $41,000–$70,000 | 109 | 7.6% |
Skills employers ask for in chef job postings
| Skill | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| Communication | 37% |
| Leadership | 23% |
| Organizational skills | 18% |
| Attention to detail | 14% |
| Customer service | 10% |
| Interpersonal skills | 9% |
| Time management | 9% |
| Problem-solving | 8% |
| Food preparation | 8% |
| Food safety | 7% |
Skills named in the posting text; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026. Methodology.
Skills that set chefs apart
- Leadership4.4× as often as in all postings · 23%
- Food preparation26.9× as often as in all postings · 8%
- Food safety27.3× as often as in all postings · 7%
- Sanitation26.9× as often as in all postings · 7%
- Inventory management13.9× as often as in all postings · 6%
Skills named in at least 5% of these postings and at least 3 times as often as in job postings overall.
Have a chef job posting in front of you? See which of its skills your resume is missing.
What does a chef do?
Employers post these jobs as Sous Chef, Kitchen Manager, Executive Chef, Kitchen Supervisor, Executive Sous Chef and other titles. The largest specializations are Sous Chef (27%), Kitchen Manager (33%), Executive Chef (19%), Chef de Partie (5%), Commis Chef (under 1%).
The closest official occupation is Chefs and Head Cooks (35-1011.00). Its most important tasks:
- 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.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
How much experience do you need to be a chef?
Among 2,601 postings that state a minimum, the median is 2 years. Under 1% say 0 years and 19% ask for 1 year or less.
Minimum experience asked in 2,601 US chef job postings: median 2 years, and 19% ask for 1 year or less.
The figures as a table
| Minimum experience asked | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| 0 yr | under 1% |
| 1 yr | 18% |
| 2 yrs | 36% |
| 3-4 yrs | 30% |
| 5-7 yrs | 14% |
| 8-9 yrs | 1% |
| 10+ yrs | 1% |
Postings that state a minimum (required or preferred); at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
We do not show a degree figure: in our checks, degree requirements in posting text were found too rarely to publish one. Why.
Full-time 87%, Part-time 13% of the 677 postings that state working hours.
Other names for a chef: job titles employers use
| Job title | Employers using it |
|---|---|
| Sous Chef | 739 (34.8%) |
| Kitchen Manager | 404 (19.0%) |
| Executive Chef | 370 (17.4%) |
| Chef | 287 (13.5%) |
| Kitchen Supervisor | 142 (6.7%) |
| Executive Sous Chef | 121 (5.7%) |
| Chef de Cuisine | 107 (5.0%) |
| Lead Cook | 104 (4.9%) |
| Sushi Chef | 78 (3.7%) |
| Assistant Kitchen Manager | 61 (2.9%) |
| Head Chef | 58 (2.7%) |
| Chef de Partie | 55 (2.6%) |
| Banquet Chef | 51 (2.4%) |
| Restaurant Kitchen Manager | 39 (1.8%) |
| Cook Supervisor | 35 (1.7%) |
| Chef Manager | 30 (1.4%) |
| Banquet Sous Chef | 27 (1.3%) |
| Culinary Supervisor | 27 (1.3%) |
| Culinary Manager | 23 (1.1%) |
| Catering Chef | 22 (1.0%) |
Titles read in our audit and used by at least 3 employers.
Chef job titles compared
The titles people search for most, from the US job postings that use each exact title (October 2026).
| Job title | Open postings | Employers | Median pay | Median experience | Skills named most |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sous Chef | 2,147 | 739 | $62K | 2 years | communication, leadership, organizational skills |
| Executive Chef | 999 | 370 | $88K | 3 years | communication, leadership, organizational skills |
Sous Chef vs Executive Chef
| Sous Chef | Executive Chef | |
|---|---|---|
| Open US postings | 2,147 | 999 |
| Employers | 739 | 370 |
| Median advertised pay | $62K | $88K |
| Median experience asked | 2 years | 3 years |
| Skills that stand out | – | menu development, financial acumen, budgeting |
Sous Chef vs Chef
| Sous Chef | Chef | |
|---|---|---|
| Open US postings | 2,147 | 742 |
| Employers | 739 | 287 |
| Median advertised pay | $62K | – |
| Median experience asked | 2 years | – |
| Skills that stand out | – | – |
Chef compared with similar careers
| Career | Median pay | Median experience | Postings | Shares N of top 25 skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chef | $60K | 2 years | 9,444 | – |
| Cook | $19.00/hr | 1 year | 52,846 | 18 |
| Restaurant Manager | $57K | 2 years | 27,316 | 18 |
| Food Service Worker | $17.00/hr | 1 year | 20,301 | 13 |
| Baker | $18.50/hr | 1 year | 9,167 | 16 |
Similar careers
| Career | Shares N of the top 25 skills | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Cook | 18 | $19.00/hr |
| Restaurant Manager | 18 | $57K |
| Food Service Worker | 13 | $17.00/hr |
| Baker | 16 | $18.50/hr |
| General Manager | 18 | $70K |
| Team Leader | 16 | $18.00/hr |
Applying for chef jobs?
- Chef resume examples: one-page examples for these roles
- Match your resume to a job: paste a posting and see the skills your resume is missing
- Check your resume: see how an applicant tracking system reads it
- Find chef jobs: search open postings
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef make?
What is the starting salary for a chef?
What are the highest-paying chef jobs?
What are other names for a chef?
How much does a Sous Chef make?
How much does an Executive Chef make?
Source and method
Open US job postings collected from employers' applicant tracking systems, de-duplicated, counted only when their job title was read in our audit. Shares count at most 20 postings per employer, and franchise locations of one brand count as one employer. Pay uses hourly and annual figures only; a figure is shown when leaving out the largest employer moves it by 10% or less. Every figure states its number of postings. Methodology and measured accuracy.
Accuracy check: we read 20 randomly chosen postings counted on this page in full; 20 of them were this career or a closely related one (October 2026).
Download the figures on this page (CSV): every number above with its count of postings. Aggregate figures are licensed CC BY 4.0; cite the page when you reuse them.