Salary Information for Chefs Who Works In a Restaurant

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According to the 2010 United States’ Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) reports, there were 165,270 head chefs and chefs working in the U.S. A lot of chefs employ, train, and manage other members of staff like food preparation workers, and other kitchen staff. Chefs also determine the items on the menu for restaurants, and ensure that all employees follow the standard safe sanitary practices. A chef is also responsible for maintaining correct supply and food inventory levels by having meetings with sales representatives.

Median Salaries and Benefits of Chefs

According to the BLS 2010 report, chefs earned median wages of $40,630 per annum. The middle half earned income of between $30,540 and $54,350 annually; the top ten percent earned salaries of over $70,960 per annum. The chefs in the bottom ten percent earned less than $23,260 per annum. A full time chef most of the time receives benefits such as paid time off, retirement benefits, life insurance, and sick time.

Standard Salaries by Industry

Salaries for chefs typically vary considerably by industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the chefs who work specifically at eating establishments such as restaurants are known to earn the highest salaries (especially in full service restaurants) – at $42,420 per annum. Restaurants are also known as the biggest food segment for which trained chefs provide their services. More than half of the chef population work for full-service restaurants. The chefs who worked at limited service restaurants were recorded to make $32,730 per annum – limited service restaurants include airports kiosks or fast food establishments.

Salaries by Metropolitan Area

Salaries for chefs can vary significantly in key metropolitan regions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the chefs who work in major metropolitan areas like New York City, Wayne, White Plains, and New York-New Jersey region earn the highest salaries at $79,820. The chefs in New Haven, Connecticut metropolitan region earn rather less at $59,530 per year. Chefs in Napa, California earn salaries of about $50,120 per annum, and in the Las Vegas area, chefs make $49,030 per annum. And, the Chefs in the Chicago-Napierville-Joliet, Illinois area earn just $37,330 annually.

Top Paying Rural Regions

The salaries of a chef also vary in certain rural or non-metropolitan regions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the chefs who work in the Natchitoches, Louisiana area earn the highest at $64,940. Natchitoches is known for being a resort area and is also known for being Louisiana’s oldest city. Furthermore, chefs in the Hawaii/Kauai/Maui region are known to earn the second highest salaries at $60,280 per annum. The chefs in the northern mountains area of California earn an annual salary of $56,610.

For those who plan on becoming chefs, it is important to understand that the food industry, employer, and region are the three factors that determine the salaries that they can expect to earn per year. Other factors that determine just how much a chef earns include; experience, educational qualifications and popularity – since celebrity chefs are known to make a lot of money.