How to hire a head chef

How to hire a head chef, step by step

Here's a step-by-step head chef hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a head chef job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new head chef
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a head chef do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your head chef job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a head chef for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect head chef also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of head chefs and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Head Chef	Description	Hourly rate
   Head Chef	Chefs and head cooks oversee the daily food preparation at restaurants and other places where food is served. They direct kitchen staff and handle any food-related concerns.	$13-34
   Pastry Cook	The Pastry Cook's responsibilities include preparing quality pastry items such as breakfast items, desserts, breads, ice creams, creams, simple syrups, amenities, and others. They are also responsible for minimizing waste and maintaining control to attain forecasted food cost.	$12-21
   Chef De Cuisine	A chef de cuisine, also known as an executive chef, oversees a kitchen's daily operations in public and private establishments to ensure food quality and efficient services. Their duties require cooking and leadership skills because they involve leading menu development and meal preparation, coordinating staff, delegating responsibilities, selecting and sourcing ingredients, and handling customer issues and concerns promptly and professionally... Show more	$17-35

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Kitchen Operations
   • Culinary
   • Dinner Service
   • Food Service
   • Cuisine
   • Safety Standards
   • Menu Planning
   • ServSafe
   • Quality Standards
   • Food Products
   • Fine Dining
   • Labor Costs
   • Kitchen Equipment
   • Food Cost

   Check all skills

   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.

   More head chef duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your head chef job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A head chef salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a head chef in Arkansas may be lower than in Hawaii, and an entry-level head chef usually earns less than a senior-level head chef. Additionally, a head chef with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average head chef salary

   $45,470yearly

   $21.86 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level head chef salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

   Average head chef salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$56,294	$27
   2	District of Columbia	$53,302	$26
   3	Washington	$53,270	$26
   4	California	$52,814	$25
   5	New York	$52,616	$25
   6	Illinois	$51,407	$25
   7	Texas	$50,149	$24
   8	Maine	$46,263	$22
   9	Florida	$44,987	$22
   10	Oregon	$44,836	$22
   11	Indiana	$44,397	$21
   12	Minnesota	$43,897	$21
   13	North Carolina	$42,974	$21
   14	Colorado	$40,868	$20
   15	Georgia	$39,511	$19
   16	Arizona	$38,330	$18
   17	Wisconsin	$36,616	$18
   18	Tennessee	$32,507	$16
   19	South Carolina	$32,352	$16
   20	Idaho	$26,717	$13

   Average head chef salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics	$72,267	$34.74
   2	Kohler Co.	$57,867	$27.82	2
   3	Goodwin Recruiting	$55,959	$26.90
   4	Il Fornaio	$55,367	$26.62	2
   5	Himalayan Institute	$52,588	$25.28
   6	Syracuse University	$52,339	$25.16	4
   7	Thompson Hospitality	$51,757	$24.88	10
   8	Uline	$51,241	$24.64
   9	Green Tech High	$51,183	$24.61
   10	PLUM	$49,674	$23.88	8
   11	Snooze	$47,951	$23.05	5
   12	College Chefs	$47,856	$23.01
   13	Woods Services	$47,824	$22.99
   14	NORTH	$47,582	$22.88
   15	Yamato Corporation	$46,947	$22.57
   16	SAGE Dining Services	$45,989	$22.11	7
   17	Unity College	$45,408	$21.83
   18	Monger Co	$44,449	$21.37
   19	University of Washington	$44,035	$21.17	1
   20	Bashas'	$43,540	$20.93	15

4. Writing a head chef job description

   A head chef job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a head chef job description:

   Head chef job description example

   Dreaming big is in our DNA. Brewing the world's most loved beers and creating meaningful experiences is what inspires us. We are owners, empowered to lead real change, deliver on tough challenges, and take accountability for the results. We are looking for talent that shares these values, that is ambitious, bold & resilient. We want talent that is looking for fast career growth, cross-functional experiences, global exposure and robust training & development.
   JOB TITLE: Breckenridge Brewery - Head Chef
   
   SALARY: $55,000- $65,000 per year + annual bonus potential up to $9,487.50
   
   WORK LOCATION : Breckenridge, CO
   
   ROLE SUMMARY:
   
   The Head Chef is accountable for supervising the kitchen efforts, including all food preparation and personnel management in the absence - or on behalf of - the Sous Chef or Executive Chef. This position does not oversee the performance of any staf f, but does assist the Sous Chef in performance management. This position maintains product consistency in the absence of the Sous Chef or Executive Chef. The Head Chef is an experienced position in the kitchen with the ability to use all equipment as necessary, and possess the training and skills to perform all tasks to achieve the highest quality at the Chef's discretion.
   
   JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: Acts as the personnel manager in place of the Sous Chef and/or Executive for the relevant shift. Oversees and executes kitchen open and close procedures. Assumes 100% responsibility for quality of product served. Interviews, hires, on boards , and trains new kitchen employees. Plans menus and utilization of food surpluses, taking into consideration probable number of guests, marketing conditions, popularity of various dishes, etc. Oversees food input procurement and inventory monitoring and maintenance. Collaborates with restaurant management team to ensure entire pub workforce across front of house and back of house coordinates seamlessly. Drive and implement consistent quality and safety standards.
   JOB QUALIFICATIONS: Culinary degree preferred but not required. Previous kitchen management experience with a strong background in both menu development and business/budgeting experience required. Thorough knowledge of food and beverage industry including BOH operations. Ability to manage personal responsibilities in a high-stress, fast-paced working environment. Ability to operate all equipment in the kitchen. Ability to follow oral and written instructions. Significant experience in professional chef and kitchen management roles. Ability to learn and operate new systems/software for scheduling and inventory management. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in different forms. Proficient with Microsoft Office and other office related software. Thorough understanding of food cost and labor cost equations Ability to quickly and efficiently cost finished plates (for specials, etc ) Understanding of multiple departments and knowledge to efficiently execute service (restaurant line, prep, catering, banquets) Work takes place in hot, wet, humid, and loud environments for long periods of time. Conducts work in a standing position; job requires frequent standing, walking, bending, stooping, and lifting up to 60lbs repetitively. Requires the ability to manipulate large quantities of food, dishware, cookware, etc. with hands.
   BENEFITS: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life insurance 401k matching up to 6% 7 paid company holidays Paid vacation and sick time off Employee Assistance Program Eligible for an quarterly bonus based on individual and business performance Free Beer and Merchandise discounts available Pub Discount Events
   
   ABOUT BREWERS COLLECTIVE:
   
   Brewers Collective helps to unlock our 20+ craft brewery partners' full potential by bringing them industry-leading expertise and increased best practice sharing, empowering them to tap into the strength of our collective Anheuser-Busch family. We share an unwavering devotion to the authentic origins of each brewery, the beer, and the communities they serve.
   
   If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us at :
   
   PRIVACY POLICY
   
   TERMS AND CONDITIONS
   
   EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT
   
   PAY TRANSPARENCY POLICY STATEMENT
   
   EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:
   
   As a leading global brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev is committed to finding innovative ways to continually improve. It's this kind of thinking that creates a unique work environment by rewarding talent, celebrating diversity, and encouraging forward thinking. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find head chefs for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your head chef job on Zippia to find and recruit head chef candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit head chefs, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new head chef

   Once you've selected the best head chef candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new head chef. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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