Head Chef Jobs – November 2024 Job Listings
We’ve rounded up the top 10 Head Chef opportunities in the United States — along with salary and company information, job requirements, benefits and more.
10 High-Paying Head Chef Jobs in the US
The U.S. currently has over 230 restaurants with Michelin star ratings — one of the world’s most prestigious awards for culinary excellence. This presents exciting opportunities for those looking to advance their culinary career as a Head Chef.
Moreover, aspiring and current Head Chefs alike can further hone their skills by working in a wide range of dining establishments throughout the country’s metropolitan areas and resort towns.
That said, below are the 10 best Head Chef jobs in the U.S. that you can apply for right now.
Dining Service Chef
Cook (Part-time)
Wok Chef – Hiring Immediately
Lead Cook (7 hours)
Sous Chef, Mariposa Restaurant – Ala Moana
Kitchen Supervisor
Cook 2 (Prep Cook)
Pearl City Zippy's Sushi Chef
Sous Chef – Hiring Immediately
Sous Chef, Operations
How Much Can You Earn From Head Chef Jobs?
Head Chefs who work in the U.S. have an average annual salary of $73,632. On a monthly basis, this would be around $6,136.
Where Can US-Based Head Chefs Earn Higher Salaries?
When looking for Head Chef jobs across the U.S., it’s important to know which states and districts you’re more likely to get higher pay.
[Calculated using Indeed, Salary.com, ZipRecruiter and Talent.com data]
This graph is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the graph to see detailed data.
The graph above shows that the District of Columbia offers the highest average salaries for Head Chefs, followed by New York and Washington. Average salaries for Head Chef vary across different locations due to factors like local economic conditions and company budgets.
Additionally, when it comes to a Head Chef’s individual salary, it often depends on their level of culinary expertise and training.
Check out our Head Chef Salary page for more comprehensive insights into compensation for this role.
Legal Requirements Related to Head Chef Jobs
Below are some federal laws and regulations on kitchen operations and employment that Head Chefs need to follow.
State-mandated health inspections
Given that Head Chefs are in charge of the overall back-of-house operations, one of their responsibilities is to make sure their establishment passes health inspections. To do that, they must constantly check if everyone in their team is adhering to kitchen safety and sanitation requirements.
Requirements for hiring minors
Head Chefs can hire minor-age applicants for their staff as long as the applicant is at least 14 years old. However, the Head Chef must ensure that these younger applicants have an employment certificate or permit.
Moreover, Head Chefs must know which kitchen tasks are legally allowed for employees below the age of 18. For instance, those aged 14 to 15 cannot be assigned to perform baking tasks or cook food over an open flame.
Exemptions from overtime pay
Most Head Chefs fall under the “learned professionals” category of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which means they’re exempt from overtime pay.
As per the FLSA, learned professionals are employees who make at least $684 a week and have primary duties that require advanced knowledge – both of which are the case with many (if not all) Head Chefs.
Head Chef Jobs FAQ
No, you need to have some supervisory or managerial experience in a commercial kitchen. This is because Head Chefs hold either the highest or second-highest position within a restaurant’s back-of-house staff.
Most Head Chef jobs require applicants to have around two to five years of prior experience as a Sous Chef, Kitchen Manager or a similar role.
The best way to prepare for a Head Chef job interview is to research what questions employers often ask and practice how you would answer these questions.
For a comprehensive list of questions, answer examples and interview tips, visit our Head Chef Interview Questions guide.
Yes, Head Chef jobs in the U.S. generally pay well. For context, the average salary for Head Chefs is $73,632 a year, as per recent data from Salary.com, Indeed, ZipRecruiter and Talent.com.
However, Head Chefs who work in major cities may earn significantly more than the nationwide average. For instance, in New York City and Los Angeles, the average annual salaries are $83,631 and $81,149 respectively.
Criteria for Selecting Our Top 10 Head Chef Jobs
Curious about how we picked which Head Chef jobs to include on our list? Here are the three main factors we took into consideration:
- Competitive yearly salaries: The jobs above offer a starting salary of at least $71,000. This is because we aimed to feature Head Chef positions that pay close to or above the U.S. average salary for this role.
- Prime locations: Each of the job listings above is located in a metropolitan area and/or a fairly popular tourist destination. After all, these kinds of places typically have lively dining industries — therefore providing ample opportunities for Head Chefs to showcase their culinary expertise.
- Reputable companies and establishments: We’ve made sure to feature Head Chef jobs from employers that are well-respected within the restaurant and hospitality industry. In fact, some of these jobs are in Michelin-starred establishments.
