How to hire an assistant chef

How to hire an assistant chef, step by step

Here's a step-by-step assistant chef hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an assistant chef job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant chef
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an assistant chef do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the assistant chef you need to hire. Certain assistant chef roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an assistant chef to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an assistant chef that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of assistant chefs and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Assistant Chef	Description	Hourly rate
   Assistant Chef	Chefs and head cooks oversee the daily food preparation at restaurants and other places where food is served. They direct kitchen staff and handle any food-related concerns.	$10-30
   Head Cook	A head cook is responsible for organizing the food preparation, organizing the kitchen operations, and ensuring the quality of the food presented. Head cooks' duties include monitoring the food inventory, creating new recipes, researching current market trends, responding to guests' inquiries and complaints, distributing kitchen tasks to the staff, and maintaining budget goals while maintaining the highest food quality... Show more	$15-29
   Chef De Cuisine	A chef de cuisine, also known as an executive chef, oversees a kitchen's daily operations in public and private establishments to ensure food quality and efficient services. Their duties require cooking and leadership skills because they involve leading menu development and meal preparation, coordinating staff, delegating responsibilities, selecting and sourcing ingredients, and handling customer issues and concerns promptly and professionally... Show more	$17-35

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Kitchen Equipment
   • Safety Standards
   • Culinary
   • Customer Service
   • Compassion
   • Kitchen Sanitation
   • Chefs
   • Wine
   • Cleanliness
   • Cost Control
   • Food Handling
   • Kitchen Operations
   • Food Storage
   • Cooking Equipment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Direct daily activity of staff (prep cook, dishwashers and wait staff), and receive and manage inventory.
   • Manage food inventory and assist chefs with menu development.
   • Attain a broad knowledge of ingredient functionality in diverse culinary applications and comfort in a culinary setting.
   • Learned the cuisine and intricacies of Tuscan style cooking as well as the influences from other regions.
   • Prep vegetables and meat for chefs, wash and dry dishes, cups, and utensils, and stock new shipments.
   • Maintain cleanliness and ensure proper preparation of orders.

   More assistant chef duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your assistant chef job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An assistant chef salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for an assistant chef in Arkansas may be lower than in New Jersey, and an entry-level assistant chef usually earns less than a senior-level assistant chef. Additionally, an assistant chef with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average assistant chef salary

   $37,670yearly

   $18.11 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level assistant chef salary

   $22,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average assistant chef salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New Jersey	$66,693	$32
   2	New York	$54,879	$26
   3	California	$53,311	$26
   4	Texas	$42,204	$20
   5	Colorado	$41,954	$20
   6	Illinois	$41,881	$20
   7	Maryland	$40,859	$20
   8	Minnesota	$40,061	$19
   9	Florida	$40,032	$19
   10	Indiana	$38,852	$19
   11	Ohio	$38,693	$19
   12	Georgia	$38,454	$18
   13	North Carolina	$37,918	$18
   14	Mississippi	$35,553	$17
   15	Nevada	$35,371	$17
   16	Arizona	$34,518	$17
   17	Oklahoma	$33,915	$16
   18	Louisiana	$29,873	$14
   19	Tennessee	$28,378	$14
   20	Utah	$25,389	$12

   Average assistant chef salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Ncar - The National Center For Atmospheric Research	$89,217	$42.89
   2	LinkedIn	$75,367	$36.23	1
   3	University Settlement	$45,298	$21.78
   4	Mission	$44,220	$21.26
   5	Goodwin Recruiting	$43,220	$20.78
   6	Sanofi US	$40,613	$19.53
   7	Mandarin Oriental	$39,620	$19.05	15
   8	Transforming Age	$38,803	$18.66	3
   9	The Magazi Inc	$38,633	$18.57	1
   10	Monger Co	$38,019	$18.28
   11	Rocco's Tacos & Tequila Bar	$37,970	$18.25
   12	Geneva Holdings LLC	$37,662	$18.11
   13	Oakmont Country Club	$37,344	$17.95	2
   14	Mercy Home for Boys & Girls	$35,886	$17.25
   15	Management & Training	$35,106	$16.88	1
   16	Publix	$33,960	$16.33
   17	JW Marriott Grand Rapids	$33,657	$16.18	7
   18	LAGARDERE	$32,809	$15.77
   19	Mary's Gone Crackers	$32,500	$15.63
   20	Enlivant	$32,369	$15.56

4. Writing an assistant chef job description

   A good assistant chef job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an assistant chef job description:

   Assistant chef job description example

   The Assistant Chef is responsible for supporting culinary management in all aspects of cost control, completing inventories and food requisitions, managing and training kitchen staff, supporting the chef de parties and cooks as necessary, supervising the production of food at all stations while ensuring food quality is according to outlet standards. This positions ensures that all government health regulations, industrial safety standards, corporate and departmental policies, and Culinary Bargaining Agreement are followed.
   Job Responsibilities:
   
   Operational Management includes, but is not limited to, the following:
   
   * Maintain consistent Wynn food quality standards.
   * Monitor and improve consistency of food quality to enhance overall customer experience.
   * Ensure standards and policies are available for staff to create and maintain a safe workplace and environment.
   * Identify, rectify and report promptly and decisively actual and potential problems to ensure workplace and environmental safety.
   * Actively encourage and support team members to participate in decision making processes to assume responsibility and authority.
   * Identify best practices and determine quality and efficiency measures as benchmarks for own performance.
   
   People Management includes, but is not limited to, the following:
   
   * Ensure direct reports conform to Wynn policies and procedures as well as taking responsibility for reporting any actual or potential issues while maintaining integrity.
   * Lead the team to contribute to the organization by defining roles, purpose, responsibility, accountabilities, and monitor performance.
   * Maintain the Wynn core values in conducting business.
   * Mentor staff through ongoing on the job coaching and positive reinforcement.
   * Provide ongoing reward and recognition of employees by utilizing applicable recognition programs.
   * Involve all members of management in decision making process thereby giving the team a bigger picture prospective.
   
   Job Requirements
   
   * Must have a minimum of 3 years of culinary management experience in a similar role.
   * Must be able to obtain and maintain any licensing or active work cards required, including but not limited to the Food Manager Certification. Requires a valid health card.
   * Ability to communicate, read, and write in English fluently and in a professional manner. Second language is a plus.
   * A culinary degree is preferred, but not required.
   * Must exhibit accurate knife skills and the ability to manage all aspects of the kitchen operation.
   * Ability to perform high quality job standards with attention to detail, creativity, speed, and accuracy.
   * Ability to work well under pressure, be a clear thinker, remains calm and resolve problems using a good judgement.
   * Must possess the ability to prioritize, organize and follow through in order to meet deadlines and production schedules.
   * Must demonstrate creative and artistic approaches to plate presentations and research new products and menu items on a regular basis.
   * Must also demonstrate the ability to direct and lead staff.
   * Must be able to work well with a team and be willing to assist in all phases of the operation.
   * Knowledge of and exposure to a union environment is preferred.
   * Must have basic computer skills and knowledge in Microsoft Office is required.
   
   Wynn Resorts is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. Wynn Resorts does not discriminate on the basis of disability, veteran status or any other basis protected under federal, state or local laws.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right assistant chef for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your assistant chef job on Zippia to find and recruit assistant chef candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting assistant chefs requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant chef

   Once you've decided on a perfect assistant chef candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new assistant chef. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an assistant chef?