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Chef/catering vs chef manager

The differences between chef/caterings and chef managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a chef/catering and a chef manager. Additionally, a chef manager has an average salary of $53,470, which is higher than the $47,693 average annual salary of a chef/catering.

The top three skills for a chef/catering include culinary, kitchen equipment and menu planning. The most important skills for a chef manager are culinary, fine dining, and customer service.

Chef/catering vs chef manager overview

Chef/CateringChef Manager
Yearly salary$47,693$53,470
Hourly rate$22.93$25.71
Growth rate15%15%
Number of jobs20,51222,346
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 50%Associate Degree, 49%
Average age4242
Years of experience66

What does a chef/catering do?

A Chef/Caterer is responsible for cooking dishes at events. They direct the kitchen staff and wait personnel in serving the food, attending to food stations, and setting up buffet tables.

What does a chef manager do?

The primary role of a Chef Manager is to supervise food preparation. They may work in varies settings, such as restaurants, schools, and hospitals.

Chef/catering vs chef manager salary

Chef/caterings and chef managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Chef/CateringChef Manager
Average salary$47,693$53,470
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $84,000Between $36,000 And $78,000
Highest paying CityNewark, NJCherry Hill, NJ
Highest paying stateNew JerseyNew Jersey
Best paying companyCornell UniversityAlameda Health System
Best paying industryTechnologyProfessional

Differences between chef/catering and chef manager education

There are a few differences between a chef/catering and a chef manager in terms of educational background:

Chef/CateringChef Manager
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 50%Associate Degree, 49%
Most common majorCulinary ArtsCulinary Arts
Most common collegeBoston UniversityBoston University

Chef/catering vs chef manager demographics

Here are the differences between chef/caterings' and chef managers' demographics:

Chef/CateringChef Manager
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 71.6% Female, 28.4%Male, 77.5% Female, 22.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 10.6% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 10.4% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between chef/catering and chef manager duties and responsibilities

Chef/catering example responsibilities.

  • Control food and payroll costs to achieve maximum profitability.
  • Train kitchen staff on HACCP guidelines, customer service, portion control and daily standards.
  • Work with a talent team of catering chefs prepping and cooking cater menu items for weddings, parties and corporate events.
  • Supervise setup, breakdown and maintenance of buffets for off-site catering company.
  • Pack meals and oversee delivery and set up of buffets and utensils when necessary.
  • Train new employee's in proper safety/sanitation guidelines with a HACCP style format that the group implements.
  • Show more

Chef manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage day to day operation and supervise the staff FOH & BOH.
  • Manage the daily activities and schedules of the other cooks, dishwashers, and prep support.
  • Manage kitchen staff, delegates responsibilities, place groceries order, prepare menus and prepare food base on recipes.
  • Supervise and train all.associates in food preparation, HACCP in-service training and sanitation and safety procedures.
  • Maintain FIFO, daily account of labor vs sales.
  • Receive orders/check invoices, rotate according to FIFO and organize walk in/freezer.
  • Show more

Chef/catering vs chef manager skills

Common chef/catering skills
  • Culinary, 18%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 14%
  • Menu Planning, 13%
  • Food Safety, 6%
  • Food Handling, 6%
  • Chefs, 4%
Common chef manager skills
  • Culinary, 19%
  • Fine Dining, 14%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • ServSafe, 8%
  • Quality Standards, 8%
  • HACCP, 6%

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