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The differences between chefs and assistant 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 and an assistant chef. Additionally, a chef has an average salary of $46,824, which is higher than the $37,670 average annual salary of an assistant chef.
The top three skills for a chef include customer service, food handling and culinary. The most important skills for an assistant chef are kitchen equipment, safety standards, and culinary.
| Chef | Assistant Chef | |
| Yearly salary | $46,824 | $37,670 |
| Hourly rate | $22.51 | $18.11 |
| Growth rate | 15% | 15% |
| Number of jobs | 65,737 | 18,054 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | Associate Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A chef is the master of the kitchen--someone who is creative and innovative with food. Chefs are the pride and reputation of each restaurant or dining establishments. They make sure every meal served is fresh and oversees the kitchen operation. They also create recipes, study menus, and prepare significant-high-quality dishes that represent the restaurant. They say academic requirements aren't needed, but anyone who has a passion for food and cooking can be a chef.
It is the responsibility of an assistant chef to support the head chef of a catering business, restaurant, cafeteria, or bakery. Assistant chefs manage inventory and ensure compliance with food safety and kitchen cleanliness standards. They assist kitchen staff in the preparation of food. To get this job, one must be trained in a culinary school, have the needed cooking skills, and must have kitchen work experience. Strong teamwork ability and flexibility to work schedule are necessary for this job.
Chefs and assistant chefs have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chef | Assistant Chef | |
| Average salary | $46,824 | $37,670 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $68,000 | Between $22,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | Urban Honolulu, HI | Atlantic City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Bridgewater Associates | Ncar - The National Center For Atmospheric Research |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a chef and an assistant chef in terms of educational background:
| Chef | Assistant Chef | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | Associate Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Culinary Arts | Culinary Arts |
| Most common college | Drexel University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between chefs' and assistant chefs' demographics:
| Chef | Assistant Chef | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.8% Female, 25.2% | Male, 71.4% Female, 28.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 11.4% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 11.0% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |