Salary Information for Chefs in Texas

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Ever thought about becoming a chef? One thing’s for sure about the salary of a chef, there is no standardized price in terms of salary. You make what you can earn, and what is profitable for the business that hires you. There is a better chance of making a fixed salary if you find a regular job working for a chain restaurant or work by arrangement with a hotel or another venue. However, many chefs work as subcontractors in Texas and there is oftentimes no firm contract, but simply pay-per-project.

How Much Can You Make?

According to Salary.com, the media average for an executive chef in the United States amounts to $66,621. However, 50% of executive chefs make less than that amount. Ten percent make $46,924 while an overwhelming majority makes more—up to $97,637. It should be noted that executive chefs make more than entry-level chefs because of the increased responsibility. They direct and oversee kitchen operations. They also develop menus, manage inventory and cut costs where possible. They also test and develop recipes, so you can imagine how important customer satisfaction is to this position.

Earning a top-ranking job, such as an executive chef, could merit a higher salary of a chef. However, you must sell yourself as an expert, meaning you understand all levels of government supervision, from local to state to even federal sanitation regulations. In Texas particularly, chefs can make more money by staying close to major cities, such as Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston. While you might think Austin would be the cooking capital of Texas, according to Salary.com, it is below the national average.

This illustrates the importance of paying attention to the market. An alternate quote comes from Indeed.com, which states that a corporate chef can earn over $80,000, but a “chef food enthusiast,” meaning likely an associate’s degree chef that works from job to job, could only make $25,000.

What Factors Matter in Determining Salary

Certainly, earning a bachelor’s degree can only help boost your salary, but experience is even better. Executive chefs oftentimes come from backgrounds of seven years working experience. They are also required to be familiar with the profession’s practices, procedures and standards. Most importantly, chefs train others and are effective leaders who can manage other cooks, and cooking assistance. Leadership requires creativity and flexibility.

You determine the salary of chefs. Can you make yourself available? Can you aggressively pursue new clients or are you willing to do whatever it takes to land one contract that is ongoing? This will determine how much you make—that is, how much you are actually worth.

Are you interested in pursuing a chef career? Whether you want to work as a contractor or reach the level of executive chef in a high-level company, you have plenty of options and opportunities. Gain experience as well as higher education from the college of your choice then make yourself available. You won’t regret taking a chance in a profession that you really love.