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The differences between caterers and chefs can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a chef has an average salary of $46,824, which is higher than the $28,891 average annual salary of a caterer.
The top three skills for a caterer include food service, kitchen equipment and food delivery. The most important skills for a chef are customer service, food handling, and culinary.
| Caterer | Chef | |
| Yearly salary | $28,891 | $46,824 |
| Hourly rate | $13.89 | $22.51 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 15% |
| Number of jobs | 1,648 | 65,737 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 37 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
A caterer is responsible for monitoring food preparation and presentation, ensuring the adequacy and accuracy of food stock based on the clients' specifications and guest count. Caterers often work with clients for special occasions and events, identify their needs, including the menu and nutritional requirements. They arrange food services from the dinnerware to choosing the appropriate staff to help with assisting the food preparation in the event's location. A caterer should maintain the highest sanitary standards at all times to guarantee the foods' safety, as well as showcase communication skills when responding to the clients' inquiries and concerns.
A chef is the master of the kitchen--someone who is creative and innovative with food. Chefs are the pride and reputation of each restaurant or dining establishments. They make sure every meal served is fresh and oversees the kitchen operation. They also create recipes, study menus, and prepare significant-high-quality dishes that represent the restaurant. They say academic requirements aren't needed, but anyone who has a passion for food and cooking can be a chef.
Caterers and chefs have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Caterer | Chef | |
| Average salary | $28,891 | $46,824 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $36,000 | Between $31,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Beverly, MA | Urban Honolulu, HI |
| Highest paying state | New York | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | The College of St. Scholastica | Bridgewater Associates |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a caterer and a chef in terms of educational background:
| Caterer | Chef | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Culinary Arts |
| Most common college | - | Drexel University |
Here are the differences between caterers' and chefs' demographics:
| Caterer | Chef | |
| Average age | 37 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.0% Female, 57.0% | Male, 74.8% Female, 25.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 6.1% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 11.4% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 9% |