Chief Cook Education Requirements And Courses

Chief cook education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Usually, chief cooks don't need a college education. The most common degree for chief cooks is high school diploma with 31% graduates, with only 28% chief cook graduates earning bachelor's degree. Chief cooks who decided to graduate from college often finish Culinary Institute of America or Montclair State University. Some good skills to have in this position include meal preparation, kitchen equipment and cleanliness.

What education do you need to become a chief cook?

What degree do you need to be a chief cook?

The most common degree for chief cooks is high school diploma, with 31% of chief cooks earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 28% and bachelor's degree degree at 23%.

High School Diploma, 31%

Bachelor's, 28%

Associate, 23%

Diploma, 8%

Other Degrees, 10%

What should I major in to become a chief cook?

You should major in culinary arts to become a chief cook. 29% of chief cooks major in culinary arts. Other common majors for a chief cook include business and hospitality management.

Culinary Arts, 29%

Business, 15%

Hospitality Management, 7%

General Studies, 6%

Other Majors, 43%

Best majors for chief cooks

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Culinary Arts	29.0%
2	Business	14.5%
3	Hospitality Management	6.9%
4	General Studies	6.1%
5	Psychology	5.3%

Show more common chief cook majors

20 best online courses for chief cooks

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1. Cooking for Busy Healthy People

Cooking is one of the most powerful ways in which we can optimize our enjoyment of great quality food while protecting our health. Even on a tight budget, cooking can be a cost-effective, joyful and rewarding way to love the food that will love us back for a lifetime. In this course, you’ll learn some basic recipes from a home cook and two professional chefs who prioritize healthful eating. You’ll also learn some of the fundamentals of principle-based cooking that can help you break free from...

2. Fun food safety and sanitation course

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The food safety course will help prepare you for safely working in a kitchen and food handler tests like Servesafe...

3. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System

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Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...

4. Cook Real Food: How to Make Simple Plant-Based Meals

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Learn how to cook whole plant foods to make quick, easy, and healthy vegan meals for practical everyday eating...

5. Food Safety for Managers and Supervisors

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The Highfield Food Safety Level 3 syllabus presented in two hours of video tutorials. Boost your food safety knowledge...

6. ISO 22000 (HACCP and PRPs) for Food Safety

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Standards, analysis, control points, and risk management related to ISO 22000 for food industry professionals...

7. Customer Service Mastery: Delight Every Customer

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Master Customer Service using this practical customer care course...

8. OSHA Safety Pro: Personal Protective Equipment

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Impress management or get that job with you your ability to display life and dollar saving work place safety practices...

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Learn the requirements and standards associated with OSHA and workplace safety. Safety best practices for the workplace...

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Learn how the main process equipment such as chemical reactors , pumps , compressors & heat exchangers are controlled...

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Learn Logistics, Supply Chain and Customer Service. 3 Courses in 1...

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Workplace Health and Safety Course For Employees & Managers...

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Customer service, customer support, and customer experience training. Loyal clients through world-class customer service...

14. NEBOSH health and safety Management System

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It Shows the Start point to Build your Health & safety Career and how to Join the field and becoming HSE Specialist...

15. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives

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Learn Customer Service Skills & Provide Excellent Customer Support, Customer Experience & How To Manage Upset Customers...

16. Fire Safety: Become A Fire Safety Expert

4.3

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Become an expert in Fire Safety, Fire Hazards Control, Fire Evacuation Plans, and Fire Risk Assessment...

17. Basic Fire Safety Awareness

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Basic Fire Safety Awareness - Your Gateway towards Career in Fire Safety...

18. Customer Service: 6 Keys To Exceptional Customer Service

4.6

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Master Customer Satisfaction & Astonish Your Customers With A+ Customer Service...

19. OSHA Safety Pro: Deadly Concrete Dust. Crystalline Silica.

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OSHA's General, Construction, and Maritime Industries Hazard Prevention and Safety Standard...

20. The Customer: Build a Customer Service Strategy (BITE SIZE)

4.5

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For you and your team to be successful in providing great customer service, start by putting your customer first...

Average chief cook salary by education level

According to our data, chief cooks with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $41,968 annually. Chief cooks with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $40,807.

Chief cook education level	Chief cook salary
High School Diploma or Less	$39,732
Bachelor's Degree	$41,968
No Education	$39,177
Some College/ Associate Degree	$40,807