How to hire a chef de cuisine

How to hire a chef de cuisine, step by step

Here's a step-by-step chef de cuisine hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a chef de cuisine job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new chef de cuisine
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a chef de cuisine do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your chef de cuisine job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a chef de cuisine for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

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   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a chef de cuisine to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a chef de cuisine that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of chef de cuisine salaries for various roles:

   Type of Chef De Cuisine	Description	Hourly rate
   Chef De Cuisine	Chefs and head cooks oversee the daily food preparation at restaurants and other places where food is served. They direct kitchen staff and handle any food-related concerns.	$17-35
   Cook	Cooks are responsible for preparing meals for guests or employers. They must be knowledgeable about the different recipes and ingredients needed... Show more	$12-19
   Pastry Cook	The Pastry Cook's responsibilities include preparing quality pastry items such as breakfast items, desserts, breads, ice creams, creams, simple syrups, amenities, and others. They are also responsible for minimizing waste and maintaining control to attain forecasted food cost.	$12-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Culinary
   • Fine Dining
   • Kitchen Operations
   • Food Preparation
   • Customer Service
   • Quality Standards
   • Menu Development
   • Cleanliness
   • Food Quality
   • Food Safety
   • Food Service
   • Wine
   • Kitchen Equipment
   • Food Handling

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the staff to insure the consistency and quality of this Chicago style bistro.
   • Manage BOH operations for this Michelin recommend restaurant in silicon valley
   • Manage cold kitchen production for a luxury hotel with a Michelin star restaurant
   • Train and manage kitchen personnel for both locations, supervised/coordinate all relate culinary activities; purchasing, inventory, butchering.
   • Work all stations; responsible for mise en place, quality of product, and maintaining sanitation standards.
   • Train and mentore local staff, hiring, scheduling maintain HACCP and production charts.

   More chef de cuisine duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your chef de cuisine job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A chef de cuisine can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, chef de cuisines' average salary in idaho is 57% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level chef de cuisines 51% less than senior-level chef de cuisines.
   • Certifications. A chef de cuisine with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a chef de cuisine's salary.

   Average chef de cuisine salary

   $51,926yearly

   $24.96 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level chef de cuisine salary

   $36,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average chef de cuisine salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Hawaii	$63,934	$31
   2	California	$61,168	$29
   3	Massachusetts	$58,857	$28
   4	New York	$58,684	$28
   5	Pennsylvania	$58,086	$28
   6	District of Columbia	$57,634	$28
   7	Washington	$53,990	$26
   8	Georgia	$53,899	$26
   9	Texas	$53,298	$26
   10	Illinois	$52,522	$25
   11	Michigan	$51,611	$25
   12	Florida	$50,458	$24
   13	Indiana	$49,093	$24
   14	North Carolina	$47,655	$23
   15	Colorado	$47,175	$23
   16	South Carolina	$46,179	$22
   17	Maryland	$45,925	$22
   18	Oregon	$45,157	$22
   19	Missouri	$43,665	$21
   20	Virginia	$42,638	$21

   Average chef de cuisine salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	TPC Group	$85,498	$41.10	1
   2	Benchmark Group	$71,775	$34.51
   3	Club	$70,213	$33.76	29
   4	ThinkFoodGroup	$66,097	$31.78
   5	Wheels	$65,913	$31.69
   6	Bertucci's	$64,499	$31.01	3
   7	Kisco Senior Living	$63,980	$30.76	7
   8	Goodwin Recruiting	$63,642	$30.60
   9	Aspen Snowmass	$63,500	$30.53	14
   10	Neiman Marcus Group	$63,481	$30.52	1
   11	Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants	$61,213	$29.43	31
   12	Lettuce Entertain You	$60,996	$29.32	26
   13	J.F. Shea Co	$60,426	$29.05	4
   14	Masimo	$60,352	$29.02
   15	Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts	$60,207	$28.95	15
   16	Hyatt Hotels	$59,833	$28.77	84
   17	HEI Hotels & Resorts	$59,745	$28.72	18
   18	Mexican Restaurants	$59,459	$28.59
   19	Wyndham Hotels & Resorts	$58,903	$28.32
   20	Rosewood Hotels & Resorts	$58,851	$28.29	1

4. Writing a chef de cuisine job description

   A chef de cuisine job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a chef de cuisine job description:

   Chef de cuisine job description example

   To assist the Executive Chef (Nobu) and / or the Executive Chef (Caesars Palace) with the day to day running of the department and be responsible for the outlet and overall quality of products produced.
   ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
   
   Display professionalism by conducting oneself with responsibility, integrity, accountability and excellence. Run all aspects of daily BOH operations including but not limited to; managing staff schedules and station assignments, ordering and receiving product, preparing prep lists and instruction for the team, quality checking product during all stages of preparation, general oversight of production and service, conducting regular internal health and safety inspections, managing daily food cost and spend. Design and implement menus that fit the requirements of a particular outlet as set out by the Executive Chef and/or Chef Partner. Provide training materials to both front and back of the house staff for relevant jobs as it pertains to the menu knowledge and cooking procedures. Set and maintain a very high standard of food quality in preparation and execution. Ensure food is handled in a respectful manner and is processed and stored in accordance with SNHD regulation. Adhere to and enforce company policies and statutory requirements with regards to health and safety, sanitation, fire procedures and HACCP. Ensure safe and proper use of equipment. Ensure kitchen equipment is in good working order, address any equipment issues promptly. Maintain a high standard of cleanliness and sanitation in and around all culinary work areas. Teach and develop and give support to culinary team as needed. Hold team members accountable on a fair and consistent basis. Support and foster a caring work environment. Work with General Manager and front of house staff to ensure a positive guest experience. Maintain food cost, labor cost, supply cost, and other controllable expenses within budget guidelines. Minimize waste and spoilage by monitoring occupancy forecasts. Conduct daily "BUZZ" sessions or pre-shift meetings with staff. Maintain high standards of appearance and good personal hygiene. Be willing to undertake additional duties and responsibilities of work outside the normal daily/weekly routine but within the overall scope of the position.
   
   OTHER MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   ServSafe Certified Knowledge, understanding, and compliance of policies and procedures, job descriptions, daily memorandums, statutory requirements regarding health and safety, sanitation, proper chemical usage, fire procedures, and HACCP Knowledge of all kitchen equipment operations Ability to read, write, and understand English Ability to perform basic/intermediate math skills Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with management, staff, and guests License Certificate: Food Safety Employee Training required and Food Handler's Card
   
   PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS:
   
   Able to manage team of up to 100 managers and supervisors and 600 hourly employees Passionate approach to streamline operational procedures and increase productivity of department Excellent communication and administration skills Applies best industry best practices Ability to maintain and further develop the standards set by Caesars Entertainment Must possess a wealth of experience and in-depth knowledge of up-to date culinary trends Must demonstrate culinary creativity Emphasis on creative thinking, problem solving, and consistently well executed food product Must be aware of market trends and latest developments in international cuisine and pastry Knowledge of all kitchen equipment operations. Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with management, staff, and guests Knowledge, understanding, and compliance of policies and procedures, job descriptions, daily memorandums, chemical labels, and other instructions Requires mobility. Ability to grasp, lift, move, or push goods on cart/truck weighing a maximum of 100 pounds Ability to work in confined spaces Sense of smell, taste, touch, and sound Eye/hand coordination and manual dexterity Ability to distinguish letters, symbols, and colors Normal vision and hearing range Requires mobility Must be able to work any shift and long hours when necessary
   
   DIRECTLY SUPERVISES (PLEASE LIST POSITION TITLES):
   
   Senior Chef Tournants Chef Tournants Cooks
   
   At Caesars Entertainment, Inc., our Team Members create the extraordinary. We are the largest casino-entertainment company in the U.S. and one of the world's most diversified casino-entertainment providers. Since beginning in Reno, Nevada, in 1937, Caesars Entertainment has grown through the development of new resorts, expansions and acquisitions. Our resorts operate primarily under the Caesars , Harrah's , Horseshoe and Eldorado brand names. We focus on building loyalty and value with our guests through a combination of impeccable service, operational excellence and technological leadership. The company is committed to its Team Members, suppliers, communities and the environment through its PEOPLE PLANET PLAY framework.
   
   Our Caesars family is driven by our Mission, Vision and Values. We take great pride in living these values - Together We Win, All In On Service and Blaze the Trail - every day. Our mission, "Create the Extraordinary". Our vision, "Create spectacular worlds. That immerse, inspire and connect you. We don't perform magic; we create it with excellence. #WeAreCaesars". If you are ready to create some magic, we invite you to explore our dynamic, yet unique, career opportunities.
   
   To assist the Executive Chef (Nobu) and / or the Executive Chef (Caesars Palace) with the day to day running of the department and be responsible for the outlet and overall quality of products produced.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right chef de cuisine for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your chef de cuisine job on Zippia to find and recruit chef de cuisine candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with chef de cuisine candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new chef de cuisine

   Once you've found the chef de cuisine candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new chef de cuisine. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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