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Job outlook for chef/caterings in the United States
Chef/catering job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected chef/catering job growth rate is 15% from 2018-2028.
About 23,600 new jobs for chef/caterings are projected over the next decade.
Chef/catering salaries have increased 24% for chef/caterings in the last 5 years.
There are over 94,963 chef/caterings currently employed in the United States.
There are 20,512 active chef/catering job openings in the US.
The average chef/catering salary is $47,693.
Are chef/catering jobs in demand?
Chef/catering job and salary trends over time
Chef/catering jobs over time
Chef/catering job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 94,963 | 0.03% |
| 2020 | 74,245 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 93,778 | 0.03% |
| 2018 | 94,078 | 0.03% |
| 2017 | 96,148 | 0.03% |
Average chef/catering salary over time
Chef/catering salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $47,693 | $22.93 | +3.6% |
| 2025 | $46,040 | $22.13 | +6.3% |
| 2024 | $43,297 | $20.82 | +5.5% |
| 2023 | $41,055 | $19.74 | +6.4% |
| 2022 | $38,580 | $18.55 | +4.0% |
Chef/catering jobs by state
Most common states for chef/caterings
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 67 | 10% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 49 | 7% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 195 | 3% |
| 4 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 104 | 3% |
| 5 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 78 | 3% |
| 6 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 38 | 3% |
| 7 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 36 | 3% |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 34 | 3% |
| 9 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 17 | 3% |
| 10 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 391 | 2% |
| 11 | New York | 19,849,399 | 359 | 2% |
| 12 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 210 | 2% |
| 13 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 198 | 2% |
| 14 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 184 | 2% |
| 15 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 150 | 2% |
| 16 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 113 | 2% |
| 17 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 98 | 2% |
| 18 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 98 | 2% |
| 19 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 92 | 2% |
| 20 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 62 | 2% |
Most common cities for chef/caterings
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burlington | 1 | 4% | $60,534 |
| 2 | Providence | 3 | 2% | $66,066 |
| 3 | Cambridge | 2 | 2% | $60,955 |
| 4 | Stamford | 2 | 2% | $60,963 |
| 5 | Cleveland | 2 | 1% | $57,901 |
| 6 | Saint Louis | 2 | 1% | $42,223 |
| 7 | Bloomington | 1 | 1% | $46,707 |
| 8 | New York | 2 | 0% | $66,383 |
| 9 | Philadelphia | 2 | 0% | $74,010 |
| 10 | Anchorage | 1 | 0% | $50,521 |
| 11 | Austin | 1 | 0% | $48,289 |
| 12 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $61,088 |
| 13 | Colorado Springs | 1 | 0% | $41,062 |
Chef/Catering job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of chef/catering experts
PattiCakes Bakery and Stoby's Restaurant
What general advice would you give to a Chef/Catering?
Patti Stobaugh: Being humble and willing to learn will take you far in your career, not just in the beginning. If you have the desire to open your own food service business, go to work for a business that has a great reputation. That will give you the opportunity to learn so much.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Chef/Caterings in the next 3-5 years?
Patti Stobaugh: Convenience services will continue to grow in importance, i.e., delivery, curbside service, gift service, small caterings for events. Social media has changed so much in the last 3-5 years that I would imagine the social media changes will be huge.