Head chef vs private chef

The differences between head chefs and private 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 head chef and a private chef. Additionally, a private chef has an average salary of $51,657, which is higher than the $45,470 average annual salary of a head chef.

The top three skills for a head chef include kitchen operations, culinary and dinner service. The most important skills for a private chef are kitchen equipment, culinary, and cuisine.

Head chef vs private chef overview

	Head Chef	Private Chef
Yearly salary	$45,470	$51,657
Hourly rate	$21.86	$24.84
Growth rate	15%	15%
Number of jobs	27,331	20,132
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 43%	Associate Degree, 48%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	6	6

Head chef vs private chef salary

Head chefs and private chefs have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Head Chef	Private Chef
Average salary	$45,470	$51,657
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $71,000	Between $34,000 And $77,000
Highest paying City	Wellesley, MA	-
Highest paying state	Hawaii	-
Best paying company	Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics	-
Best paying industry	Health Care	-

Differences between head chef and private chef education

There are a few differences between a head chef and a private chef in terms of educational background:

	Head Chef	Private Chef
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 43%	Associate Degree, 48%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Culinary Arts
Most common college	Drexel University	Cornell University

Head chef vs private chef demographics

Here are the differences between head chefs' and private chefs' demographics:

	Head Chef	Private Chef
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 79.8% Female, 20.2%	Male, 58.8% Female, 41.2%
Race ratio	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%	Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between head chef and private chef duties and responsibilities

Head chef example responsibilities.

Hire, train, and manage a staff of cooks, also train servers and cross train dishwashers.
Manage a kitchen of military personal and Japanese civilian chefs.
Supervise, coordinate and direct all culinary activities within the food service department.
Work manned omelet and brunch stations in dining room.
Develop HACCP plans for every fresh item carry on premises.
Assist with setup and break down of equipment for parties, meetings and brunch.

Private chef example responsibilities.

Control food and payroll costs to achieve maximum profitability.
Prepare innovative vegan and children's menus.
Provide demonstrations, caterings, and in-home cooking classes.
Shop for groceries on daily basis for each day's meals.
Source the freshest suppliers, procurement facilities, local farmers and groceries.
Tailor gluten-free and vegan offerings for special needs and provide child friendly-healthy snacks.

Head chef vs private chef skills

Common head chef skills

Kitchen Operations, 27%
Culinary, 9%
Dinner Service, 6%
Food Service, 5%
Cuisine, 3%
Safety Standards, 3%

Common private chef skills

Kitchen Equipment, 20%
Culinary, 13%
Cuisine, 7%
Food Preparation, 6%
Fine Dining, 4%
Diet Restrictions, 4%

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Head Chef vs Private Chef

Updated January 8, 2025

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