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Whether you’re considering culinary school or already climbing the kitchen ladder, one question tends to rise to the top: How much do chefs actually make?
The answer depends on more than just your title. From entry-level line cooks to executive chefs, from plant-based innovators to private chefs for elite clients, culinary salaries vary widely based on experience, specialization, and setting.
In this 2025 guide, we’ve broken down the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Restaurant Association, and other reliable sources to give you a clear picture of what chefs earn across a wide range of roles. You’ll also find insights into niche career paths, real-world earning potential, and how factors like education, location, and experience can influence your paycheck.
Chef Salary Highlights for 2025
- Median salary for chefs and head cooks: $60,990/year
- Highest-paying industry: Traveler accommodation (hotels, resorts) at $73,110/year
- Executive chefs earn up to $97,9536 (as of October 2025)
- Vegan chefs earn an average of $63,994/year
(Sources: “Chefs and Head Cooks: Pay,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “These Jobs Have the Largest Number of Opportunities for This Area,” National Restaurant Association, “Salary: Vegan Chef,” ZipRecruiter, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
National Chef Salary at a Glance
Understanding what chefs earn nationally can provide a helpful benchmark, especially for those just starting to explore the culinary field.
What’s the Average Salary for Chefs?
The most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics offers some clear benchmarks. According to May 2024 figures, chefs and head cooks earned a median salary of $60,990, but this national median only scratches the surface.
The chart below breaks down median earnings across several key industries where chefs commonly work.
Chef Salaries by Industry
| Industry | Median Salary (as of May 2024) |
|---|---|
| Traveler Accommodation (e.g. hotels, resorts) | $73,110 |
| Amusement, Gambling, & Recreation | $69,430 |
| Food services and drinking places | $59,450 |
| Healthcare and social assistance (e.g. hospitals, residential care facilities) | $57,350 |
| All Chef & Head Cook Roles (Overall Median) | $60,990 |
| Top 10% of Earners (All Industries) | $96,030+ |
| Bottom 10% of Earners (All Industries) | $36,000 or less |
(Source: “Chefs and Head Cooks: Pay,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
While traditional restaurants are the most common workplace for chefs, the highest-paying restaurant roles tend to be in hotels, resorts, and recreation-focused venues like casinos or entertainment complexes. These environments often demand luxury-level cuisine and service, which can drive up wages—especially for executive-level chefs or those with specialized expertise.
Catering and special food service companies also pay above the national median, likely due to the logistical complexity, event-based scheduling, and client customization these roles require. By contrast, chefs working in restaurants and other typical eating establishments earn average salaries about 5% below the overall median wage for chefs and head cooks.
What’s the Median Salary for Different Chef Levels?
While “chef” is often used broadly, there’s a wide pay range across culinary roles depending on skill level, training, and responsibility. According to 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
| Role | Median Salary (as of May 2024) |
|---|---|
| Food & Beverage Servers (e.g. waitstaff, hosts) | $31,040 |
| Bartenders | $33,530 |
| Food Preparation Workers (e.g. kitchen assistants) | $34,220 |
| Cooks (line cooks, grill cooks, etc.) | $35,760 |
| Chefs & Head Cooks | $60,990 |
(Source: “Food Preparation and Serving Occupations,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
These numbers show a clear upward trend in earnings as culinary professionals advance from support roles to leadership positions in the kitchen. Entry-level positions like food & beverage servers and prep workers tend to fall in the low $30,000s, reflecting their limited responsibility and minimal training requirements. Cooks see a modest bump, earning a median of $35,760—but the most dramatic increase occurs at the chef and head cook level, where the median salary of $60,990 represents a 71% increase over the average line cook salary.
This leap highlights the potential financial payoff of advancing in the culinary field through experience, skill-building, and formal education. Chefs and head cooks not only lead kitchens and design menus, but often shoulder administrative duties like inventory, staff management, and food cost control, justifying their substantially higher compensation.
From Cook to Executive Chef: What to Expect
Data from the National Restaurant Association adds another layer to our understanding of culinary career progression. As chefs rise through the ranks—from cooks and kitchen staff to sous chefs and executive chefs—so do their earnings and responsibilities:
| Role | 25th–75th Percentile Salary Range (as of September 2025) |
|---|---|
| Fast Food/Counter Worker | $27,072 – $34,496 |
| Kitchen Staff | $30,144 – $40,640 |
| Cook | $33,408 – $42,624 |
| Baker | $34,432 – $41,600 |
| Food Service Supervisor | $34,944 – $44,928 |
| Restaurant Manager | $38,528 – $61,568 |
| Chef | $39,552 – $67,968 |
| Sous Chef | $51,968 – $67,328 |
| Executive Chef | $72,960 – $94,976 |
| Dietitian/Nutritionist | $63,488 – $82,688 |
(Source: “These Jobs Have the Largest Number of Opportunities for This Area,” National Restaurant Association)
These ranges show how much room there is to grow within the culinary field, and how pay scales with responsibility and specialization. For example, an executive chef can earn more than twice as much as a fast-food worker, and over 40% more than a sous chef on average.
But these top-paying jobs are highly competitive. According to that same National Restaurant Association data, from June 12th to July 12th, 2025, there were 14,998 cook jobs posted nationally, compared to just 572 executive chef openings. That’s a 26:1 ratio, highlighting the importance of experience, credentials, and networking in reaching the top.
Chef Pay by Role and Specialization
Bakers Salaries
While pastry chefs often fall under the BLS category of chefs and head cooks, bakers are classified separately and follow a different salary trajectory.
According to 2023 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, bakers in the U.S. earn an average annual salary of $35,550, or about $17.09/hour. But pay varies significantly based on where they work:
Baker Salaries by Industry
| Industry | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Traveler Accommodation (e.g. hotels, resorts) | $46,080 |
| Special Food Services (e.g. catering) | $38,000 |
| Bakeries & Tortilla Manufacturing | $35,750 |
| Restaurants & Eating Places | $33,250 |
(Source: “Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Hotel and resort bakers top the pay scale, earning over $12,000 more annually than those in restaurants, likely due to factors like luxury service expectations, banquet demand, and high-volume pastry production.
Catering roles also pay above average, rewarding bakers who can handle custom menus and complex logistics.
Bakeries and restaurants pay more modest wages, reflecting tighter margins and simpler product lines.
Bakers Salary Insight
If you’re a baker looking to boost your income, consider aiming for roles in hospitality or event-based services, where skill, creativity, and specialization often command a premium.
Plant-Based Chef Salaries
As demand grows for plant-forward dining, chefs who specialize in vegan, vegetarian, and plant-based cuisine are finding more opportunities across restaurants, wellness retreats, and private chef roles.
While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t currently break out salary data for plant-based chefs specifically, third-party data from ZipRecruiter suggests that vegan chefs earn an average of $63,994 per year as of Aug. 19, 2025.
This pay range puts plant-based chefs in a similar salary bracket as many traditional chefs—especially in markets where wellness, sustainability, and clean eating are top culinary values. And the potential isn’t just financial, it’s also creative.
Estimated Salary Range for Plant-Based/Vegan Chefs
| Percentile | Estimated Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 25th Percentile | $50,000 |
| Median | $63,994 |
| 75th Percentile | $75,000 |
(Source: “Vegan Chef Salary,” ZipRecruiter)
Note: Based on job listings and self-reported data. May not reflect government-tracked statistics.
Plant-based chefs often command competitive salaries not just because of the growing market, but because of the specialized creativity the role demands. As Escoffier graduate and plant-based chef Shane Witters Hicks says, “You should never feel stuck in a rut with a vegetarian diet … you’re going to be forced to investigate ingredients that you never thought you’d cook with. And as a result, I think it’s actually kind of an expansion of your culinary capacities to cook plant-based.”
That kind of innovation is increasingly in demand. According to the National Restaurant Association, restaurants that emphasize “clean,” “sustainably sourced,” and “plant-based” menus are already aligned with the “restaurant of the future.” As consumer tastes shift toward healthier options, sourcing transparency, and global flavors, chefs who can lead in this space may see expanded career opportunities—and earning potential.
Private and Personal Chef Salaries
Private and personal chefs typically work outside of traditional commercial kitchens, serving clients in private homes, on yachts, or at high-end retreats. While the field is small in terms of national employment, it offers one of the most flexible and potentially lucrative culinary career paths.
According to May 2023 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, private household cooks (which includes both private and personal chefs) earned a median salary of $42,590. But pay can vary widely depending on clientele, services offered, and location:
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $27,140 |
| 25th | $34,120 |
| 50th (Median) | $42,590 |
| 75th | $57,370 |
| 90th | $87,410 |
(Source: “Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
California is a standout for private chef earnings, with an average salary of $65,570—the highest reported state wage for this role. Hawaii also ranks highly, at $57,170.
Why the Wide Range?
Private and personal chefs can command top dollar when working with high-net-worth individuals or offering specialized services like health-focused meal prep, plant-based cooking, or culinary education. These roles also often include non-salary perks such as paid travel, room and board, or flexible scheduling.
If you’re a culinary professional with strong communication skills and a client-service mindset, the private chef route could be a rewarding next step.
Other Culinary Roles
While most culinary careers begin in kitchens, some chefs carve out specialized paths in fields like research and development, corporate operations, or food styling. These roles may offer higher base salaries, more consistent hours, and different kinds of creative challenges. However, reliable government data is limited—so the figures below come from Salary.com, which compiles self-reported compensation and employer data. Actual earnings may vary based on company, location, and experience.
Estimated Salaries for Niche Culinary Roles
| Role | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate Chef | $92,531 | $74,816 | $112,008 |
| R&D Chef (Product Dev) | $85,250 | $76,177 | $91,624 |
| Food Stylist | $73,356 | $62,830 | $94,519 |
(Sources: “Corporate Chef Salary in the United States,” “Research And Development Chef Salary in the United States,” “Food Stylist Salary in the United States,” Salary.com)
These niche roles may require specialized training or industry connections, but they often come with higher-than-average salaries, predictable hours, and the chance to influence food trends at scale. Culinary school grads who blend cooking expertise with business, marketing, or science may be especially well-positioned for these paths.
What Do These Roles Involve?
- Corporate Chefs often work for restaurant chains, hotel groups, or large food companies. They may oversee regional menus, manage training programs, or handle large-scale recipe development.
- R&D Chefs or research chefs often work in test kitchens or labs to develop new food products, especially in packaged or plant-based foods.
- Food Stylists bridge the gap between culinary skill and visual art, working on advertising shoots, media campaigns, or cookbooks to make food look its best.
Making the Most of Your Culinary Paycheck
Your title isn’t the only thing that determines your culinary income. Education, experience, specialization, and even geography all play a role in what you take home, and what that paycheck means in real-world terms. Here’s how to take control of your earning potential, wherever you are in your culinary career.
Education May Matter
Formal culinary training may not be required in every kitchen, but it could accelerate your climb. Many employers associate culinary arts degrees and diplomas with refined technique, kitchen leadership potential, and less on-the-job ramp-up. Specialized programs, such as baking and pastry, plant-based, or food entrepreneurship programs may also qualify you for higher-paying roles.
Data from Zippia shows that 56% of executive chefs hold an associate degree, while 26% have a bachelor’s degree. Executive chefs with an associate degree earn a median annual salary of $65,380, which is notably higher than the $58,897 median for those with only a high school diploma. This underscores how education can meaningfully impact earnings at the highest kitchen leadership levels.
Experience Pays (Literally)
The longer you’ve worked in a kitchen, the more you’re likely to earn, especially if you’re climbing the ranks to senior leadership roles.
According to Oysterlink, executive chefs with 10+ years of experience can earn up to $86,386 annually, which is about 30% more than entry-level executive chefs earning around $66,365. These seasoned professionals are often compensated for more than just their cooking skills. Top level executive chefs are often expected to boost operational efficiency and profitability across the business.
This upward trajectory applies across the culinary spectrum. Early in your career, gaining hands-on experience in varied environments—from fast-casual kitchens to fine-dining—might fast-track your ability to take on high-responsibility, high-salary roles.
Location, Location, Location
Cost of living and local demand both shape pay. While a fine-dining chef in San Francisco may earn more than a small-town counterpart, high housing or labor saturation can shrink real income. (Want to dig deeper? Explore how geography impacts chef pay)
Strategic Moves: From Kitchen to Corporate
Pivoting to high-paying roles like private chef, corporate chef, or research & development can lead to major salary jumps. These jobs often require both culinary excellence and broader skills like client management, product innovation, or cross-functional collaboration.
Is a Culinary Career Worth It Financially?
Ultimately, deciding whether to pursue a culinary career is a personal decision that depends on your financial goals, stress tolerance, geographic location, and preferred work-life balance. The hours can be long and the pace intense. But for many, the rewards go far beyond the paycheck. There’s the love of cooking, the chance to manage their own kitchen and team, and for the sense of pride in creating memorable dining experiences. They may also love the idea of bringing joy to others through food, preserving cultural traditions, or innovating new flavors and techniques.
“Take advantage of everything,” says Chef Colette Christian, Escoffier Chef Instructor in Baking & Pastry Arts. “Get that Associate degree, work part time. Really understand how hard the work is. But then when people love your food, it’s awesome.”
If you love cooking, hospitality, or the creative process of crafting dishes people remember, a culinary career can be deeply fulfilling—and financially viable with the right experience and strategy.
Curious about how culinary school could fit into your future? Contact us to explore Escoffier’s programs, speak with an Admissions representative, and take the first step toward your culinary career.
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CULINARY CAREERS? TRY THESE NEXT:
- Cooking Up Success: How Chris Puga Turned His Baking Passion into a Thriving Career
- The Essential Guide to Careers in Foodservice
- Am I Too Old to Become a Chef?
*Information may not reflect every student’s experience. Results and outcomes may be based on several factors, such as geographical region or previous experience.
