What is a chef/catering and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted Expert
Patti Stobaugh
introduction image

The chances are that you've enjoyed the services of a caterer at least once before. If you've ever attended a wedding, fundraiser or a large party, a caterer probably prepared the food. A chef caterer is responsible for preparing, delivering, presenting, and possibly serving food to clients.

There are different kinds of caterers, and they do slightly different things. Mobile caterers sell food at food courts or fairs to hungry customers. Hotel caterers and private caterers prepare a menu and cook food for visitors.

Besides cooking, chef caterers may also market their services to gain new business. They may submit proposals and meet potential clients. In a large operation, the chef may also need to hire other cooks to prepare the food.

Chef caterers can get an education through a degree in culinary arts. They may also attend a vocational school to study the profession.

What general advice would you give to a Chef/Catering?

P
Being humble and willing to learn will take you far in your career, not just in the beginning. If you have the desire to open your own food service business, go to work for a business that has a great reputation. That will give you the opportunity to learn so much.
ScoreChef/CateringUS Average
Salary
3.7

Avg. Salary $47,693

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
9.2

Growth Rate 15%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
7.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.68%

Asian 10.59%

Black or African American 10.94%

Hispanic or Latino 16.39%

Unknown 5.21%

White 56.20%

Gender

female 28.41%

male 71.59%

Age - 41
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41
Stress Level
9.2

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.4

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
0.2

Work Life balance is

6.4 - fair

Chef/Catering career paths

Key steps to become a chef/catering

  1. Explore chef/catering education requirements

    Most common chef/catering degrees

    Associate

    50.5 %

    Bachelor's

    28.6 %

    High School Diploma

    9.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific chef/catering skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Culinary18.08%
    Kitchen Equipment14.14%
    Menu Planning12.56%
    Food Safety6.47%
    Food Handling6.31%
  3. Complete relevant chef/catering training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New chef/caterings learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a chef/catering based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real chef/catering resumes.
  4. Gain additional chef/catering certifications

    Chef/catering certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific chef/catering certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for chef/caterings include ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification and Certified Food Manager (CFM).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research chef/catering duties and responsibilities

    • Control food and payroll costs to achieve maximum profitability.
    • Train kitchen staff on HACCP guidelines, customer service, portion control and daily standards.
    • Work with a talent team of catering chefs prepping and cooking cater menu items for weddings, parties and corporate events.
    • Supervise setup, breakdown and maintenance of buffets for off-site catering company.
  6. Prepare your chef/catering resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your chef/catering resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a chef/catering resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Chef/Catering Resume templates

    Build a professional Chef/Catering resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Chef/Catering resume.
    Chef/Catering Resume
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    Chef/Catering Resume
    Chef/Catering Resume
    Chef/Catering Resume
  7. Apply for chef/catering jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a chef/catering job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Chef/Catering Job

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Average chef/catering salary

The average Chef/Catering salary in the United States is $47,693 per year or $23 per hour. Chef/catering salaries range between $27,000 and $84,000 per year.

Average Chef/Catering Salary
$47,693 Yearly
$22.93 hourly

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How do chef/caterings rate their job?

-/5

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4 Stars

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1 Star

Chef/Catering reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020
Pros

Design & creating food making customer happy cooking every area as line, prep, steam, broil, grill, creating comfort food desserts and catering. Ordering and managing a kitchen

Cons

Nothing to complain about love being a chef


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2019
Pros

The responsibility and instant gratification when a customer has a wow monment

Cons

Lazy workers who do not care about the products that they are working with and their teammates


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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