What Type of Income Should I Expect When I Become a Chef?

---

Ever thought of becoming a professional chef and putting your natural talents to good use? The income for a chef varies greatly depending on things like location, education, and experience. Anyone considering a career in the culinary arts field needs to take all of these things into account before beginning their journey to become a chef. There is no shortcut to becoming a successful chef and it takes a lot of commitment and time to be successful in the field.

Nothing comes easy for a chef and that includes salary. Before the income for a chef can become lucrative, he or she must spend several years earning a meager living. No future chef should expect to get rich right out of culinary school. In fact, most chefs earn very little money while gaining the experience and knowledge necessary to work their way up the career ladder to becoming an executive chef.

Salary by Experience (Line Cook, Sous Chef, Pastry Chef)

According to the BLS, the average annual salary range for chefs by position is as follows:

•Pastry chef – $34,000 to $51,000
•Sous chef – $35,000 to $40,000
•Assistant chef – $35,000
•Sushi chef – $25,000 to $70,000
•Executive chef – $50,000 to $85,000

It is easy to see how varied the career earnings of a chef may be, depending on specialty area of choice or title and experience. Of course, there are other factors at work to determine the average income for a chef and location is one of the most important.

Why Location Matters in This Profession

Location matters a great deal in regards to how much income a chef will earn over the course of his or her career. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a chef in each of the following states varies quite a bit:

•California – $47,540
•New York – $56,470
•Texas – $45,410
•Florida – $51,660
•Pennsylvania – $43,090

Work Environment of a Typical Chef

The income for a chef is definitely an important consideration when thinking of undertaking a culinary career. However, there are other issues that are just as important. Things like work environment, hours spent in the kitchen, physical requirements, and cost of a culinary education should all be considered. It doesn’t matter what the income for a chef may be, if he or she isn’t willing to work the hours necessary to collect it at the end of the month. Being a chef is about commitment and dedication. Without both, income promises simply don’t matter.

Summary

The income for a chef is determined by quite a few different things like experience, location, and type of work situation (i.e. fine dining vs. casino or chain restaurant). Choosing to join the culinary world as a chef is a lifetime choice. Chef work isn’t part-time or temporary. Being a chef is something that should only be undertaken with the understanding that there is always room to grow, both in experience and salary.