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Chef/owner vs chef manager

The differences between chef/owners and chef managers 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/owner and a chef manager. Additionally, a chef manager has an average salary of $53,470, which is higher than the $45,199 average annual salary of a chef/owner.

The top three skills for a chef/owner include menu planning, kitchen equipment and cuisine. The most important skills for a chef manager are culinary, fine dining, and customer service.

Chef/owner vs chef manager overview

Chef/OwnerChef Manager
Yearly salary$45,199$53,470
Hourly rate$21.73$25.71
Growth rate15%15%
Number of jobs64,18322,346
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 45%Associate Degree, 49%
Average age4242
Years of experience66

What does a chef/owner do?

A Chef/Owner is the owner of a restaurant who also manages the restaurant's kitchen through coordinating the food preparation team, deciding what dishes to serve, and adjusting orders to meet guests' requests. They also prepare budgets, manage and implement new menus and operational ideas.

What does a chef manager do?

The primary role of a Chef Manager is to supervise food preparation. They may work in varies settings, such as restaurants, schools, and hospitals.

Chef/owner vs chef manager salary

Chef/owners and chef managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Chef/OwnerChef Manager
Average salary$45,199$53,470
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $76,000Between $36,000 And $78,000
Highest paying City-Cherry Hill, NJ
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-Alameda Health System
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between chef/owner and chef manager education

There are a few differences between a chef/owner and a chef manager in terms of educational background:

Chef/OwnerChef Manager
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 45%Associate Degree, 49%
Most common majorCulinary ArtsCulinary Arts
Most common collegeBoston UniversityBoston University

Chef/owner vs chef manager demographics

Here are the differences between chef/owners' and chef managers' demographics:

Chef/OwnerChef Manager
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 71.7% Female, 28.3%Male, 77.5% Female, 22.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 9.8% White, 56.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%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%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between chef/owner and chef manager duties and responsibilities

Chef/owner example responsibilities.

  • Participate and train staff and colleagues to accomplish different level of ACF certification CEC, CEPC.
  • Control food and payroll costs to achieve maximum profitability.
  • Establish and operate an historic inn including a 40 seat restaurant offering French/California inspire cuisine focuse on seasonal local ingredient menus.
  • Insure that students understand the depth and scope of all class materials as outlined in the syllabus.
  • Edit, revise and correct lesson plans to reflect requirements on the syllabus and ensure lesson plans match the competencies require.
  • Own and operate successful gourmet restaurant/bakery/catering service
  • Show more

Chef manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage day to day operation and supervise the staff FOH & BOH.
  • Manage the daily activities and schedules of the other cooks, dishwashers, and prep support.
  • Manage kitchen staff, delegates responsibilities, place groceries order, prepare menus and prepare food base on recipes.
  • Supervise and train all.associates in food preparation, HACCP in-service training and sanitation and safety procedures.
  • Maintain FIFO, daily account of labor vs sales.
  • Receive orders/check invoices, rotate according to FIFO and organize walk in/freezer.
  • Show more

Chef/owner vs chef manager skills

Common chef/owner skills
  • Menu Planning, 25%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 16%
  • Cuisine, 5%
  • Payroll, 5%
  • Food Preparation, 5%
  • Fine Dining, 4%
Common chef manager skills
  • Culinary, 19%
  • Fine Dining, 14%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • ServSafe, 8%
  • Quality Standards, 8%
  • HACCP, 6%

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