Chef/catering vs private chef

The differences between chef/caterings and private 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 a private chef. Additionally, a private chef has an average salary of $51,657, 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 private chef are kitchen equipment, culinary, and cuisine.

Chef/catering vs private chef overview

	Chef/Catering	Private Chef
Yearly salary	$47,693	$51,657
Hourly rate	$22.93	$24.84
Growth rate	15%	15%
Number of jobs	20,512	20,132
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 50%	Associate Degree, 48%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	6	6

Chef/catering vs private chef salary

Chef/caterings and private chefs have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Chef/Catering	Private Chef
Average salary	$47,693	$51,657
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $84,000	Between $34,000 And $77,000
Highest paying City	Newark, NJ	-
Highest paying state	New Jersey	-
Best paying company	Cornell University	-
Best paying industry	Technology	-

Differences between chef/catering and private chef education

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

	Chef/Catering	Private Chef
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 50%	Associate Degree, 48%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Culinary Arts
Most common college	Boston University	Cornell University

Chef/catering vs private chef demographics

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

	Chef/Catering	Private Chef
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 71.6% Female, 28.4%	Male, 58.8% Female, 41.2%
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, 10.1% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between chef/catering and private chef 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.

Private chef example responsibilities.

Control food and payroll costs to achieve maximum profitability.
Prepare innovative vegan and children's menus.
Provide demonstrations, caterings, and in-home cooking classes.
Shop for groceries on daily basis for each day's meals.
Source the freshest suppliers, procurement facilities, local farmers and groceries.
Tailor gluten-free and vegan offerings for special needs and provide child friendly-healthy snacks.

Chef/catering vs private chef skills

Common chef/catering skills

Culinary, 18%
Kitchen Equipment, 14%
Menu Planning, 13%
Food Safety, 6%
Food Handling, 6%
Chefs, 4%

Common private chef skills

Kitchen Equipment, 20%
Culinary, 13%
Cuisine, 7%
Food Preparation, 6%
Fine Dining, 4%
Diet Restrictions, 4%

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Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Chef/Catering
Chef/Catering vs Private Chef

Updated January 8, 2025

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