Chef Jobs – September 2024 Job Listings
We’ve curated a list of the top 10 Chef roles in the United States, including details on salaries, qualifications and benefits.
Top 10 Chef Jobs in the US (Hiring Now!)
To help you navigate the expanding job market for culinary professionals, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 high-paying Chef positions in the U.S.
Chef
Chef de Cuisine (Spanish Cuisine)
Traveling Chef
Restaurant Chef – InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown
Chef
Corporate Chef
Catering Chef – Corporate Dining
Chef
Sous Chef
Chef Manager
How Many Chefs Are Currently Employed in the US?
There are currently 172,370 Chefs employed in the United States, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Here are the industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
Additionally, the demand for Chefs in the United States is projected to grow by 5% from 2022 to 2032. This exceeds the average growth rate for all other professions (3%).
How Much Can You Earn from Chef Jobs?
The average hourly wage for a Chef in the United States is $30.12, which translates into a yearly salary of $62,640.
However, the top three highest-paying states — Hawaii ($99,520 per year), Rhode Island ($81,170 per year) and Massachusetts ($77,120 per year) — offer significantly higher average salaries.
For more details on salaries, visit our Chef Salary page.
FAQs About Chef Jobs
Employers usually look for a mix of culinary expertise, creativity and strong leadership abilities in Chefs. They value skills like menu planning, food safety and cost control, along with attributes such as attention to detail, adaptability and the ability to work well under pressure.
To tailor their resumes and cover letters to specific restaurant concepts, Chefs should highlight relevant experience and skills.
For instance, if applying to a fine dining restaurant, they should emphasize their experience with upscale plating techniques and working with premium ingredients.
It’s also beneficial to mention any past roles in similar high-end settings and demonstrate an understanding of the restaurant’s sophisticated culinary style.
Certainly! You can apply for more specific Chef jobs such as Sous Chef jobs and Executive Chef jobs. If you’re looking for more junior-level culinary roles, consider positions like Line Cook or Prep Cook. These roles can provide valuable experience and help you build your culinary skills.
If you’re a Chef preparing for a job interview, here are some common questions you might get asked:
- What is your approach to menu development and creating new dishes?
- How do you handle high-pressure situations during busy service periods?
- How do you manage and motivate your kitchen team?
- How do you ensure consistency and quality in your dishes?
- What are your views on sustainability and sourcing local ingredients?
How We Picked the Top 6 Chef Jobs in the US
We have selected the top 6 Chef jobs in the U.S. based on the following criteria:
- Competitive salary: Most of these jobs offer annual salaries that are higher than the national average.
- Comprehensive benefits: We prioritized jobs that include well-rounded benefits like health, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) plans, paid time off and flexible scheduling.
- Reputable employers: We focused on opportunities with employers known for being trustworthy and stable.
