What is the Average Salary of Chefs Working in California?

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The average salary for chefs in California depends quite a bit on location of employment within the state itself. Chefs working in a few specific cities or areas are apt to make a lot more than those in more rural locations. However, there are other factors at work when determining the average salary for chefs in the Sunshine State as well. Things like culinary background, training, and education all play a role in the amount of money a chef in California may earn.

Average Salary for Chefs in California

California is a Mecca for fine dining and quality food, so the salaries of chefs in California are expected to reflect the quality of dining anticipated in that state. Check out the following average salaries for executive chefs in California.

•Anaheim – $73,663
•Bakersfield – $68,593
•Burbank – $73,044
•Fresno – $67,907
•Huntington Beach – $73,663
•Los Angeles – $73,044
•Oakland – $75,622
•Pasadena – $73,044
•Sacramento – $72,364
•San Diego – $70,879
•Santa Barbara – $70,499
•Ventura – $70,552

What Goes into Computing a Chef’s Salary?

Several factors go into the final number that makes up a chef’s salary including location, type of dining establishment, experience, education, job responsibilities, and economic atmosphere. Of these factors, the type of dining establishment plays a huge part in salary expectations. Some of the establishments where a chef might work are fine dining restaurants, resorts, schools, hospitals, spas, catering companies, casinos, fast food restaurants, and as a personal chef.

Culinary Schools in California

Before becoming a chef with a high paying salary, the first step in the process is to decide whether or not to attend culinary school. Luckily for the residents of California, there are a lot of great culinary schools in their state.

•Kitchen Academy (Sacramento)
•International Culinary Schools at the Art Institutes (Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Ana, Sunnyvale)
•California Culinary Academy, Le Cordon Bleu (San Francisco, Pasadena)
•San Diego Culinary Institute (San Diego)
•The Professional Culinary Institute (Campbell)
•Chef Eric’s Culinary Classroom (Los Angeles)
•Living Light Culinary Arts Institute (Fort Bragg)

What it takes to be Successful as a Chef

A successful chef has to be willing to commit to long hours, stressful situations, and a lifetime of learning and getting better at all aspects of cooking and food preparation. No successful chef ever got that way by taking shortcuts or foregoing the required time spent to gain the necessary experience. True chefs understand the need for commitment and dedication.

Chefs with a drive to succeed embrace the challenges of becoming a successful chef and tackle them with the same passion that drew these individuals into the field in the first place. Anyone considering a career as a chef should possess that same level of passion for cooking and all things food-related if they want to become a successful chef. Interested in learning more about this career field? Find a school that can help you learn the fundamentals of this rewarding career.