Line chef vs private chef

The differences between line 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 line chef and a private chef. Additionally, a private chef has an average salary of $51,657, which is higher than the $26,651 average annual salary of a line chef.

The top three skills for a line chef include kitchen equipment, sanitation standards and food handling. The most important skills for a private chef are kitchen equipment, culinary, and cuisine.

Line chef vs private chef overview

	Line Chef	Private Chef
Yearly salary	$26,651	$51,657
Hourly rate	$12.81	$24.84
Growth rate	15%	15%
Number of jobs	144,227	20,132
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 34%	Associate Degree, 48%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	6	6

Line chef vs private chef salary

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

	Line Chef	Private Chef
Average salary	$26,651	$51,657
Salary range	Between $18,000 And $37,000	Between $34,000 And $77,000
Highest paying City	Chicopee, MA	-
Highest paying state	New Hampshire	-
Best paying company	Syracuse University	-
Best paying industry	Education	-

Differences between line chef and private chef education

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

	Line Chef	Private Chef
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 34%	Associate Degree, 48%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Culinary Arts
Most common college	Stanford University	Cornell University

Line chef vs private chef demographics

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

	Line Chef	Private Chef
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6%	Male, 58.8% Female, 41.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 10.4% White, 55.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	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 line chef and private chef duties and responsibilities

Line chef example responsibilities.

Manage food expo; facilitate food temp logs; creation of menu specials; management and supervision of production staff
Clean stoves, ovens, shrowds, floors, stainless steel tables.
Prepare food for special groups including those who have eating disorders or allergies.
Close down the kitchen after each shift, making sure all BOH staff follow closing checklist for kitchen stations.
Maintain highest level of cleanliness and sanitation
Maintain company and government standards of preparation, safety and cleanliness.

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.

Line chef vs private chef skills

Common line chef skills

Kitchen Equipment, 16%
Sanitation Standards, 11%
Food Handling, 8%
Customer Service, 8%
Cleanliness, 8%
Broilers, 7%

Common private chef skills

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

Line Chef vs. similar jobs

Line Chef related careers

Line Chef related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Line Chef
Line Chef vs Private Chef

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse food preparation and restaurant jobs