Information on Chef’s Income

---

Celebrity chef’s income is nearly unlimited. Well-known chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Wolfgang Puck make millions every year. For most other chefs salaries are more in tune with other professions.

The amount of money you can make as a chef depends greatly on your own skill level, where you plan to live and work, as well as the industry and type of establishment in which you work. Culinary arts training, typically at a dedicated culinary arts school or through a culinary arts program offered at many local community colleges will significantly increase you potential income.

An Overview of Chef Salaries

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2012 (the most recent year statistics are currently available), chef and head cooks had median annual pay of $42,480 per year or $20.42 per hour. Median pay is not the same as average pay. The average (or mean) pay is calculated by adding all reported salaries together, then dividing by the total number of salaries reported. Median pay, on the other hand, is calculated as the number where 50% of the people working in that field earn more and 50% earn less. Median pay gives us the familiar bell curve we’re used to seeing.

For chefs on the upper end of the bell curve, the top 10%, they earned more than $74,140, in 2012. On the other hand, chefs on the lower end of the bell curve, the bottom 10%, earned less than $24,530. Chefs on the lower end of the curve are typically less experienced chefs who will see their income increase as they gain experience. This doesn’t mean all will end up in the top 10%, but many will end up at, or above, the median pay level.

Higher Earning Potential

Industry, specialty, and experience all play roles in determining a chef’s income. Casinos and hotels tend to be the highest paying industries, it’s not unusual for a pastry chef in a casino to earn more than $50,000 a year, if that pastry chef is working in Las Vegas then $70,000 or more is not uncommon. Sous chefs (second in charge in most kitchens behind the executive chef) will typically earn higher salaries than regular chef due to additional responsibilities they take on and the extra years of experience required to hold that position.

Location also affects a chef’s income. The top states and cities for chef are Washington DC ($60,590 mean annual salary), Connecticut ($57,630 mean annual salary), New Jersey ($57,370 mean annual salary), and New York ($56,470).

Executive chefs, especially those working in large markets or the hotel and casino industry, often times see six figure salaries. Executive chefs are typically the stars of the culinary world and their presence can make or break an establishment. Getting to this level takes years of hard work, extraordinary culinary skills, and a real mind for business.

While the income for chefs varies widely around the country and by industry, it is generally a good paying profession with nearly unlimited earning potential – depending on how much effort you are willing to put in. The first step is to get yourself to the nearest culinary school and enroll.