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Chef/owner vs pastry chef assistant

The differences between chef/owners and pastry chef assistants 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 pastry chef assistant. Additionally, a chef/owner has an average salary of $45,199, which is higher than the $42,896 average annual salary of a pastry chef assistant.

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

Chef/owner vs pastry chef assistant overview

Chef/OwnerPastry Chef Assistant
Yearly salary$45,199$42,896
Hourly rate$21.73$20.62
Growth rate15%15%
Number of jobs64,18319,000
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
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 pastry chef assistant do?

Typically, a pastry chef assistant provides help in the daily operations of the pastry kitchen or bakery. Assistant chefs work with the head baker and schedule and supervise kitchen staff and other pastry chefs in their day-to-day tasks. The chefs ensure the availability of all ingredients for the preparation of pastries and any other desserts. Their responsibilities involve the maintenance of food item inventory, handling safe refrigerated and non-refrigerated item storage, and rotating stock.

Chef/owner vs pastry chef assistant salary

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

Chef/OwnerPastry Chef Assistant
Average salary$45,199$42,896
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $76,000Between $27,000 And $66,000
Highest paying City-Atlantic City, NJ
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-Catholic Health East
Best paying industry-Construction

Differences between chef/owner and pastry chef assistant education

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

Chef/OwnerPastry Chef Assistant
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Most common majorCulinary ArtsCulinary Arts
Most common collegeBoston UniversityStanford University

Chef/owner vs pastry chef assistant demographics

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

Chef/OwnerPastry Chef Assistant
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 71.7% Female, 28.3%Male, 55.0% Female, 45.0%
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, 10.1% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 11.3% White, 51.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between chef/owner and pastry chef assistant 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
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Pastry chef assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage plating and garnishing for all dishes.
  • Manage a kitchen of military personal and Japanese civilian chefs.
  • Control and prevent food waste following HACCP.
  • Review daily stock of case items to determine items to refill using date, texture and FIFO standards.
  • Do all the ordering for the bakery, help with the scheduling, do the HACCP for food safety.
  • Maintain and practice FIFO systems at all times as well as date, label, initial and rotate all necessary items.
  • Show more

Chef/owner vs pastry chef assistant skills

Common chef/owner skills
  • Menu Planning, 25%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 16%
  • Cuisine, 5%
  • Payroll, 5%
  • Food Preparation, 5%
  • Fine Dining, 4%
Common pastry chef assistant skills
  • Kitchen Equipment, 18%
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Culinary, 11%
  • ServSafe, 7%
  • Meal Preparation, 5%
  • Steamers, 5%

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