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The differences between assistant chefs and chef/kitchen managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a chef/kitchen manager has an average salary of $49,415, which is higher than the $37,670 average annual salary of an assistant chef.
The top three skills for an assistant chef include kitchen equipment, safety standards and culinary. The most important skills for a chef/kitchen manager are kitchen operations, culinary, and wine.
| Assistant Chef | Chef/Kitchen Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $37,670 | $49,415 |
| Hourly rate | $18.11 | $23.76 |
| Growth rate | 15% | 15% |
| Number of jobs | 18,054 | 38,242 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 32% | Associate Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 42 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 6 | - |
It is the responsibility of an assistant chef to support the head chef of a catering business, restaurant, cafeteria, or bakery. Assistant chefs manage inventory and ensure compliance with food safety and kitchen cleanliness standards. They assist kitchen staff in the preparation of food. To get this job, one must be trained in a culinary school, have the needed cooking skills, and must have kitchen work experience. Strong teamwork ability and flexibility to work schedule are necessary for this job.
A kitchen manager or chef is someone who oversees the overall operations in the kitchen as well as the food operations. Kitchen managers make certain that food and related products are well prepared, cooked, and served to customers. They maintain a fully-stocked kitchen inventory and comply with the cleanliness and safety standards. It is their responsibility to manage the kitchen staff and aid them in delivering quality food at the right time. They need to possess management skills, leadership skills, and attention to detail.
Assistant chefs and chef/kitchen managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assistant Chef | Chef/Kitchen Manager | |
| Average salary | $37,670 | $49,415 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $63,000 | Between $34,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Atlantic City, NJ | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New York |
| Best paying company | Ncar - The National Center For Atmospheric Research | Castilleja School |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between an assistant chef and a chef/kitchen manager in terms of educational background:
| Assistant Chef | Chef/Kitchen Manager | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 32% | Associate Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Culinary Arts | Culinary Arts |
| Most common college | Stanford University | - |
Here are the differences between assistant chefs' and chef/kitchen managers' demographics:
| Assistant Chef | Chef/Kitchen Manager | |
| Average age | 42 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.4% Female, 28.6% | Male, 79.9% Female, 20.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 11.0% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 10% |