Chefs and Head Cooks
Chefs and head cooks direct food preparation in kitchens, seasoning and cooking salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, and other dishes. They work in restaurants, hotels, catering companies, and institutional food services. Responsibilities include planning menus, pricing items, ordering supplies, and maintaining records.
Four short assessments and your background, scored against chefs and head cooks and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
A day in the work
A typical week involves arriving early to plan daily specials and review inventory. Chefs coordinate with kitchen staff on food preparation, monitor cooking times and temperatures, and ensure quality standards. They manage multiple stations during service, respond to orders, and handle food costs and supplier communications. Administrative tasks include maintaining health and safety records and adjusting recipes based on availability and demand.
Who this work suits
Holland code ERC. Enterprising work is leading, persuading and making decisions. Aptly’s interest assessment scores you on the same six scales.
You likely enjoy working hands-on with practical problems and seeing immediate results. You're comfortable taking charge of operations and making decisions under pressure, and you find satisfaction in building systems that run smoothly and turning a profit.
What it takes
Preparation: Medium preparation (vocational training, an associate degree, or related experience). Most people in this occupation hold an associate degree.
Skills that matter most
Knowledge areas
Who is hiring
Openings right now
- MWR Chef (Supervisor) · Commander, Navy Installations Command · San Diego, California · $62645–$62645
- Supervisory Chef NF-03 · Defense Logistics Agency · Richmond, Virginia · $43827–$48001
- MWR Sous Chef · Commander, Navy Installations Command · Fallon, Nevada · $21.4–$21.4
- Sous Chef · Commander, Navy Installations Command · Naval Academy, Maryland · $25–$30
- Assistant Chef NF-03 · U.S. Military Academy · West Point, New York · $44520–$48001
- Chef - Warrior Eatery · Commander, Navy Installations Command · Bangor, Washington · $56000–$64000
Openings are read from employers’ own career pages and public job boards and change daily. Search all openings (free account) to filter by distance, pay and how well you qualify.
Pay by state
| State | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $71,630 | $79,930 | $96,180 | 740 |
| Hawaii | $54,530 | $77,360 | $98,640 | 1,240 |
| District of Columbia | $63,550 | $76,420 | $81,360 | 2,020 |
| Washington | $58,650 | $76,010 | $81,540 | 5,320 |
| North Dakota | $48,940 | $74,740 | $78,700 | 100 |
| New Jersey | $59,860 | $74,280 | $82,200 | 9,100 |
| Wyoming | $62,100 | $73,170 | $83,700 | 240 |
| South Carolina | $60,120 | $71,860 | $79,050 | 2,650 |
| New York | $55,070 | $70,670 | $93,240 | 17,430 |
| Tennessee | $57,470 | $69,810 | $81,900 | 3,820 |
| Massachusetts | $54,120 | $69,540 | $83,050 | 6,000 |
| Georgia | $50,220 | $66,230 | $90,350 | 3,680 |
All 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico
Certifications people in this field hold
- Certified Chef de Cuisine (CCC) — American Culinary Federation, Inc.
- Certified Executive Chef (CEC) — American Culinary Federation, Inc.
- Certified Master Chef (CMC) — American Culinary Federation, Inc.
- Certified Personal Chef (CPC) — United States Personal Chef Association
- Certified Executive Pastry Chef (CEPC) — American Culinary Federation, Inc.
- Certified Working Pastry Chef (CWPC) — American Culinary Federation, Inc.
Training
Aptly members see WIOA-approved programs, colleges and certificates near them, with completion and earnings data, on every Path plan.
Job titles in this occupation
and 8 more
Related occupations
Four short assessments and your background, scored against chefs and head cooks and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
O*NET-SOC 35-1011.00 · O*NET OnLine. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, annual, U.S. Employment counts are national.