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The differences between chefs and head 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 a head chef. Additionally, a chef has an average salary of $46,824, which is higher than the $45,470 average annual salary of a head chef.
The top three skills for a chef include customer service, food handling and culinary. The most important skills for a head chef are kitchen operations, culinary, and dinner service.
| Chef | Head Chef | |
| Yearly salary | $46,824 | $45,470 |
| Hourly rate | $22.51 | $21.86 |
| Growth rate | 15% | 15% |
| Number of jobs | 65,737 | 27,331 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | Associate Degree, 43% |
| 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.
A head chef is responsible for the overall culinary satisfaction and dining experience of the guests. Head chefs manage the food production, starting from the preparation to the final presentation. They regularly research the current food trends to adapt to their innovative expertise, creating different cuisines to meet the guests' preferences. They also manage the kitchen staff, delegate tasks, and ensure the adequacy of food ingredients and supplies. A head chef must have excellent communication and organizational skills, adhering to the highest sanitation procedures, and responding to the guests' inquiries and concerns.
Chefs and head chefs have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chef | Head Chef | |
| Average salary | $46,824 | $45,470 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $68,000 | Between $28,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Urban Honolulu, HI | Wellesley, MA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Bridgewater Associates | Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a chef and a head chef in terms of educational background:
| Chef | Head Chef | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | Associate Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Culinary Arts | Culinary Arts |
| Most common college | Drexel University | Drexel University |
Here are the differences between chefs' and head chefs' demographics:
| Chef | Head Chef | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.8% Female, 25.2% | Male, 79.8% Female, 20.2% |
| 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, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 11.2% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |