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The differences between chef managers and line 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 manager and a line chef. Additionally, a chef manager has an average salary of $53,470, which is higher than the $26,651 average annual salary of a line chef.
The top three skills for a chef manager include culinary, fine dining and customer service. The most important skills for a line chef are kitchen equipment, sanitation standards, and food handling.
| Chef Manager | Line Chef | |
| Yearly salary | $53,470 | $26,651 |
| Hourly rate | $25.71 | $12.81 |
| Growth rate | 15% | 15% |
| Number of jobs | 22,346 | 144,227 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 49% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
The primary role of a Chef Manager is to supervise food preparation. They may work in varies settings, such as restaurants, schools, and hospitals.
Line Chefs are in charge of cooking or preparing meat, vegetables, soup, and other ingredients according to area guidelines. Their responsibilities include managing and supervising kitchen staff, coordinating with fellow chefs, replenishing supply inventories, and setting-up cooking areas, ensuring adequate and high-quality ingredients. Among their other usual tasks involve cutting vegetables and meat, preparing sauces, and resolving issues should any arise. Moreover, they must maintain their designated area's cleanliness, all while enforcing and adhering to the health and sanitation standards.
Chef managers and line chefs have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chef Manager | Line Chef | |
| Average salary | $53,470 | $26,651 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $78,000 | Between $18,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cherry Hill, NJ | Chicopee, MA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Alameda Health System | Syracuse University |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Education |
There are a few differences between a chef manager and a line chef in terms of educational background:
| Chef Manager | Line Chef | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 49% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Culinary Arts | Culinary Arts |
| Most common college | Boston University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between chef managers' and line chefs' demographics:
| Chef Manager | Line Chef | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.5% Female, 22.5% | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 10.4% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 10.4% White, 55.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |