We compiled some of the highest-paying Executive Chef jobs in the United States (U.S.) that offer the best employee benefits, salaries and other perks.
Projected Job Openings for Executive Chefs
The Executive Chef role — which falls under the Head Cooks category in data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics — proves to be an in-demand career in the culinary arts field, with 22,000 job openings projected each year from 2022 to 2032.
[Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics]
What Is the Average Salary of an Executive Chef Job Role?
The average salary for Executive Chefs in the United States is $80,040 per year or $38.48 per hour. This makes the Executive Chef role one of the best-paying jobs in the restaurant industry.
What Are the Requirements for Executive Chefs?
Aside from having a Food Handler card, a proof that confirms your knowledge of proper food safety practices, anyone can be an Executive Chef if they have the following:
- High school diploma
- A minimum of 10 years of experience in the kitchen
However, this doesn't mean that the path to becoming an Executive Chef is easy. It may be less physically demanding than working as a Sous Chef, Patissier and Sushi Chef, but they'll still work long and irregular hours.
Executive Chefs are also under a lot of pressure having to balance occasional tasks in the kitchen and working on strategic plans to help the establishment thrive.
Finally, there are instances wherein Executive Chefs need to deal with upset customers. In instances wherein they aren't satisfied with their food or unhappy with the services provided by the waitstaff, Executive Chefs need to step in to resolve these issues quickly to uphold their integrity and the establishment's image.
How We Picked These Executive Chef Jobs in the US
Our list of jobs was picked according to the following criteria:
- Competitive salary: The jobs we listed offer competitive salaries. The salaries are higher than the average wage OysterLink determined through various sources.
- Good employee benefits: Your compensation package also includes employee benefits. So, we made sure that the jobs listed have benefits that will help improve your working experience.
- Reputable employer: We chose employers with either decades of experience in the industry or a good reputation to ensure your stability and growth.