Kitchen supervisor vs chef/kitchen manager

The differences between kitchen supervisors and chef/kitchen managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a chef/kitchen manager has an average salary of $49,415, which is higher than the $40,520 average annual salary of a kitchen supervisor.

The top three skills for a kitchen supervisor include culinary, cleanliness and food service. The most important skills for a chef/kitchen manager are kitchen operations, culinary, and wine.

Kitchen supervisor vs chef/kitchen manager overview

	Kitchen Supervisor	Chef/Kitchen Manager
Yearly salary	$40,520	$49,415
Hourly rate	$19.48	$23.76
Growth rate	10%	15%
Number of jobs	66,303	38,242
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 34%	Associate Degree, 46%
Average age	37	37
Years of experience	-	-

What does a kitchen supervisor do?

A kitchen supervisor is responsible for managing the overall kitchen operations, ensuring that the kitchen employees follow sanitary procedures while doing their high-quality and maximum productivity tasks. Kitchen supervisors manage inventories, checking the adequacy of food supplies and kitchen equipment, and negotiating contracts with suppliers and third-party vendors. They also help develop marketing strategies, research the latest food trends, update menus, and create financial reports and expense forecasting. A kitchen supervisor must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially with responding to customers' inquiries and concerns and resolving complaints.

What does a chef/kitchen manager do?

A kitchen manager or chef is someone who oversees the overall operations in the kitchen as well as the food operations. Kitchen managers make certain that food and related products are well prepared, cooked, and served to customers. They maintain a fully-stocked kitchen inventory and comply with the cleanliness and safety standards. It is their responsibility to manage the kitchen staff and aid them in delivering quality food at the right time. They need to possess management skills, leadership skills, and attention to detail.

Kitchen supervisor vs chef/kitchen manager salary

Kitchen supervisors and chef/kitchen managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Kitchen Supervisor	Chef/Kitchen Manager
Average salary	$40,520	$49,415
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $58,000	Between $34,000 And $70,000
Highest paying City	Seattle, WA	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Washington	New York
Best paying company	GoodCents	Castilleja School
Best paying industry	Start-up	Hospitality

Differences between kitchen supervisor and chef/kitchen manager education

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

	Kitchen Supervisor	Chef/Kitchen Manager
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 34%	Associate Degree, 46%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Culinary Arts
Most common college	-	-

Kitchen supervisor vs chef/kitchen manager demographics

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

	Kitchen Supervisor	Chef/Kitchen Manager
Average age	37	37
Gender ratio	Male, 65.0% Female, 35.0%	Male, 79.9% Female, 20.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 6.8% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between kitchen supervisor and chef/kitchen manager duties and responsibilities

Kitchen supervisor example responsibilities.

Manage grill area and demonstrate leadership.
Manage people and oversee production of high-volume establishment for this upscale restaurant specializing in Mexican cuisine.
Train and supervise all culinary employees including community service volunteers in kitchen operations and delegate daily work assignments.
Maintain kitchen and dining area under Servsafe guidelines.
Used a POS system and show advanced money management skills.
Exercise leadership skills by coordinating kitchen staff during busy times.

Chef/kitchen manager example responsibilities.

Manage operations, orderings, and inventorying using POS & software programs.
Train and manage all kitchen personnel and supervise as well as coordinated all relate culinary activities.
Practice excellent food safety and sanitation practices and comply with HACCP standards.
Work both saut and roasting stations.
Clean and maintain kitchen, cooking line and appliances according to ServSafe standards.
Coordinate and plan seasonal menu s, recipes, and functions within the hotel using POS and software programs

Kitchen supervisor vs chef/kitchen manager skills

Common kitchen supervisor skills

Culinary, 16%
Cleanliness, 11%
Food Service, 10%
Food Handling, 8%
Kitchen Equipment, 7%
Customer Service, 6%

Common chef/kitchen manager skills

Kitchen Operations, 23%
Culinary, 20%
Wine, 8%
Quality Standards, 5%
Guest Satisfaction, 4%
ServSafe, 3%

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Kitchen Supervisor
Kitchen Supervisor vs Chef/Kitchen Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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