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The differences between chef/caterings and executive chefs 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 an executive chef. Additionally, an executive chef has an average salary of $59,416, 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 an executive chef are culinary, food preparation, and customer service.
| Chef/Catering | Executive Chef | |
| Yearly salary | $47,693 | $59,416 |
| Hourly rate | $22.93 | $28.57 |
| Growth rate | 15% | 15% |
| Number of jobs | 20,512 | 83,085 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 50% | Associate Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
Executive chefs are considered the lead chefs in a restaurant. They manage the restaurant's kitchen, including all other chefs employed by the restaurant. Executive chefs are in charge of creating menu items and ensuring that the restaurant's menu is in line with the restaurant's identity. They handle the management of the pantry and ensure that it is well-stocked. They also ensure that all kitchen equipment and fixtures are working well. Executive chefs are responsible for training new chefs on the job to ensure consistent food quality.
Chef/caterings and executive chefs have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chef/Catering | Executive Chef | |
| Average salary | $47,693 | $59,416 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $84,000 | Between $40,000 And $87,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Cornell University | Bridgewater Associates |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a chef/catering and an executive chef in terms of educational background:
| Chef/Catering | Executive Chef | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 50% | Associate Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Culinary Arts | Culinary Arts |
| Most common college | Boston University | Drexel University |
Here are the differences between chef/caterings' and executive chefs' demographics:
| Chef/Catering | Executive Chef | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.6% Female, 28.4% | Male, 87.5% Female, 12.5% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 10.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 10.8% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |