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Sous Chef Jobs: July 2024 Job Listings
We’ve gathered 10 high-paying Sous Chef jobs in the U.S. that you can apply for right now.
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Top 10 Sous Chef Jobs in the United States
Looking to advance your culinary career by working as a Sous Chef? Below are the 10 best Sous Chef jobs, along with their salaries, requirements, benefits and other key information.
1. The Clift Royal Sonesta | $78,000–$97,000 per year
[Source: Royal Sonesta]
- Position: Executive Sous Chef
- Location: San Francisco, CA
- About: The Clift Royal Sonesta is a historic, four-star hotel that dates all the way back to 1915. It is located beside San Francisco’s famous Union Square.
- Requirements: At least two years of experience as a Sous Chef; culinary degree or apprenticeship program; high school diploma or GED
- Job type: Full-time
- Benefits: 401(k)/retirement plan, medical dental and vision insurance, discounts for Sonesta hotels, educational assistance, paid time off
- Where to apply: Visit Sonesta’s career page
2. Goodwin Recruiting | $75,000–$85,000 per year
[Source: Goodwin Recruiting]
- Position: Sous Chef
- Location: Washington, D.C.
- About: Goodwin Recruiting is a full-service recruitment firm headquartered in the East Coast. It services clients in multiple industries such as restaurant, hospitality, retail, finance and information technology.
- Requirements: Minimum of five years of experience as a Sous Chef or Executive Sous Chef; proven leadership and communication skills; prior experience in a high-volume, upscale restaurant preferred
- Job type: Full-time
- Benefits: Bonus plan, paid time off, healthcare insurance
- Where to apply: Visit Goodwin Recruiting’s career page
3. NORMS Restaurants | $75,000–$100,000 per year
[Source: NORMS Restaurants]
- Position: Corporate Sous Chef
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- About: NORMS Restaurants is a Southern California-based chain of diner-style eateries, some of which are open 24/7.
- Requirements: At least 10 years of culinary experience; fluent in Spanish; able to commute within the Greater Los Angeles area; ServSafe certification; able to lift or move objects weighing up to 40 pounds; previous restaurant experience and culinary degree preferred
- Job type: Full-time
- Benefits: Meal reimbursements, medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k)/retirement plan, paid time off
- Where to apply: Visit NORMS Restaurants’ career page
4. Restaurant Associates | $70,000–$75,000 per year
[Source: Restaurant Associates]
- Position: Sous Chef
- Location: Cambridge, MA
- About: Restaurant Associates is a dining management company that provides services for various settings – from corporate offices and museums to airport lounges and special events. It is also a subsidiary of Compass Group USA.
- Requirements: Minimum of two years of kitchen supervisory experience or equivalent; culinary arts degree preferred
- Job type: Full-time
- Benefits: Weekday-only work hours, discount marketplace, flexible spending account, employee assistance program, healthcare and disability insurance
- Where to apply: Visit Compass Group’s career page
5. King’s Seafood Company | $70,000–$85,000 per year
[Source: King’s Seafood Company]
- Position: Sous Chef
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- About: Founded in 1945, King’s Seafood Company is a seafood wholesaler and restaurant group. It owns and operates multiple dining concepts, with more than 20 locations across five states.
- Requirements: At least two years of experience as a Kitchen Manager, Cook Supervisor or Sous Chef; high school diploma or equivalent; at least 21 years old; formal culinary training; financial management skills
- Job type: Full-time
- Benefits: Employee discounts, tuition reimbursement, healthcare and life insurance, 401(k)/retirement plan, pet healthcare savings account
- Where to apply: Visit King’s Seafood Company’s career page
6. MINA Group | $80,000–$85,000 per year
[Source: MINA Group]
- Position: Sous Chef
- Location: Jackson, WY
- About: MINA Group is a restaurant management company founded by Chef Michael Mina, a recipient of the prestigious James Beard Award. The company is in charge of over 40 on-site and virtual dining concepts across the U.S. and Dubai.
- Requirements: At least two years of back-of-house experience in a fine dining restaurant; able to regularly lift objects weighing up to 30 pounds; able to work at least 50 hours a week
- Job type: Full-time
- Benefits: Up to $6,000 housing allowance
- Where to apply: Visit MINA Group’s career page
7. RH | $71,000–$110,000 per year
[Source: RH]
- Position: Sous Chef
- Location: Palo Alto, CA
- About: RH (formerly called Restoration Hardware) was initially just a home-furnishing company. However, since 2015, they have expanded their brand operations to other fields like restaurant and hospitality.
- Requirements: Minimum of two years of relevant hospitality experience; advanced knife skills; ability to lift up to 50 pounds; valid food certifications in accordance with state laws
- Job type: Full-time
- Benefits: Healthcare insurance, paid time off
- Where to apply: Visit RH’s career page
8. The Capital Grille | $70,000–$72,000 per year
[Source: The Capital Grille]
- Position: Sous Chef
- Location: Seattle, WA
- About: The Capital Grille is an upscale restaurant chain that specializes in high-quality steaks and wines. It currently has over 70 locations across the United States, as well as Mexico.
- Requirements: Previous experience as a Sous Chef, Executive Sous Chef or Kitchen Manager in a high-volume upscale establishment; stable job history; culinary skills and wine knowledge
- Job type: Full-time
- Benefits: Quarterly bonus, employee stock purchase program, paid time off, 401(k)/retirement plan, healthcare, disability and life insurance
- Where to apply: Visit The Capital Grille’s career page
9. Bon Appétit Management Company | $65,000–$75,000 per year
[Source: Bon Appétit Management Company]
- Position: Executive Sous Chef
- Location: Cleveland, OH
- About: Bon Appétit Management Company provides on-site dining and catering services to various corporate offices, cultural institutions and universities across the U.S. Moreover, the company has been part of Compass Group since 2002.
- Requirements: At least five years of culinary supervisory experience in a high-volume, multi-unit establishment; extensive knowledge of food production and catering trends; proficiency in Microsoft Office
- Job type: Full-time
- Benefits: Medical, dental and vision insurance, commuter benefits, employee discounts, 401(k)/retirement plan, health and wellness programs
- Where to apply: Visit Compass Group’s career page
10. Soho House & Co | $65,000–$70,000 per year
[Source: Soho House & Co]
- Position: Junior Sous Chef – Soho House West Hollywood
- Location: West Hollywood, CA
- About: Soho House & Co is a group of luxury hotels and exclusive members’ clubs. It currently boasts over 75 locations around the world.
- Requirements: Minimum of three years’ kitchen experience; proven leadership, communication and multitasking skills; valid food handler’s certificate; availability to work mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays as needed
- Job type: Full-time
- Benefits: 401(k)/retirement plan, training and advancement opportunities, free meals, company-sponsored workshops and classes, medical, dental and vision insurance
- Where to apply: Visit Soho House & Co’s career page
Average Salary for Sous Chef Jobs in the US
On average, Sous Chefs working in the United States earn $56,013 a year. This translates to a monthly salary of $4,667.75.
Where Can US-Based Sous Chefs Earn Higher Salaries?
Our list of high-paying Sous Chef jobs covers multiple U.S. regions. However, if you’re wondering which states and districts have the highest average salaries for this role, check out the graph below.
[Calculated using Indeed, Talent.com, Salary.com and ZipRecruiter data]
This graph is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the graph to see detailed data.
Laws and Regulations Related to Sous Chef Jobs
Here are some of the most important federal laws and regulations that every Sous Chef should know about. These cover employment and kitchen operations.
- Overtime pay exemptions: Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Sous Chefs with a weekly salary of at least $684 may fall under the “learned professionals” category. In such cases, a Sous Chef would be exempt from overtime pay regulations.
- Food safety: In most states, Sous Chefs are required to have a valid food handler’s certification or license. This entails taking classes that cover food safety, which is a crucial aspect of every culinary job.
- Kitchen sanitation: Sous Chefs assist the Chef de Cuisine and Executive Chefs in managing back-of-house operations, which involves following kitchen safety and sanitation requirements. As such, a Sous Chef must help ensure that the restaurant passes the state-mandated health inspection.
Want to learn about the specific rules in each state? Explore our collection of Labor Legislation Guides.
Sous Chef Jobs FAQ
There are no laws or industry rules specifying an age requirement for those applying to be a Sous Chef.
However, many employers require Sous Chef applicants to have at least a high school diploma or GED. In the U.S., high school graduates are typically 17 or 18 years old.
It depends on what you count as “only a few years of experience.” Most Sous Chef jobs require candidates to have around two to three years of experience as a back-of-house staff member.
That said, you’ll most likely need prior experience working as a Sous Chef or in more junior roles such as a Pastry Chef, Line Cook and Prep Cook.
The best way to prepare for a Sous Chef interview is to review the job description included in the job ad. Then, familiarize yourself with the common interview questions employers ask and prepare your talking points based on what was mentioned in the job description.
How We Selected Each of These Top 10 Sous Chef Jobs
Here are the three main criteria we used to ensure that we recommend you the best Sous Chef jobs:
1. Ideal locations
Cities or resort towns with a bustling dining scene often provide Sous Chefs with more opportunities to hone their skills and work alongside industry experts. That said, we’ve made sure to feature Sous Chef jobs that are located in major metropolitan areas and/or well-known travel destinations.
2. Highly competitive salaries
Each of the Sous Chef job listings offers a starting salary of at least $65,000 – which is significantly higher than the national average salary for this role.
3. Extensive benefits and perks
We picked Sous Chef jobs from companies that offer great benefits and perks, such as healthcare coverage, 401(k), employee discounts, commuter benefits and educational assistance.