Food service
Chefs and head cooks
Direct and may participate in the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. May plan and price menu items, order supplies, and keep records and accounts.
Median pay
$62,470
Growth to 2035
+7%
faster than average
Openings a year
25,200
Time to qualify*
5 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Chefs and head cooks
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- 5 years or more
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Chefs and head cooks: 79% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Monitor sanitation practices to ensure that employees follow standards and regulations.
- Instruct cooks or other workers in the preparation, cooking, garnishing, or presentation of food.
- Supervise or coordinate activities of cooks or workers engaged in food preparation.
- Order or requisition food or other supplies needed to ensure efficient operation.
- Inspect supplies, equipment, or work areas to ensure conformance to established standards.
- Check the quantity and quality of received products.
- Check the quality of raw or cooked food products to ensure that standards are met.
- Estimate amounts and costs of required supplies, such as food and ingredients.
Also called: Banquet Chef · Chef · Cook · Executive Chef (Ex Chef) · Executive Pastry Chef · Executive Sous Chef · Food and Beverage Director · Head Cook
Outlook and AI
Chefs and head cooks held 220,300 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 234,700 by 2035 (+7%, faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Chefs and head cooks vs. Baker
- Chefs and head cooks vs. Cooks, restaurant
- Chefs and head cooks vs. Cooks, private household
- Chefs and head cooks vs. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Chefs and head cooks vs. Food service manager
- Chefs and head cooks vs. Cooks, short order
- Chefs and head cooks vs. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
- Chefs and head cooks vs. Food batchmaker
- Chefs and head cooks vs. Waiters and waitresses
- Chefs and head cooks vs. Dietetic technician