What is an executive chef and how to become one

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

An executive chef manages the kitchen of a food establishment. They plan menus, oversee food preparation, manage kitchen staff, and ensure food quality and safety. Executive chefs also collaborate with other departments to develop recipes, maintain inventory, and manage food costs. They must have knowledge of various cuisines, cooking techniques, and culinary trends. The role requires strong leadership, communication, and organization. Executive chefs work long hours and often have years of experience in the industry.

What general advice would you give to an Executive Chef?

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.
ScoreExecutive ChefUS Average
Salary
4.6

Avg. Salary $59,416

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
9.2

Growth Rate 15%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
7.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.72%

Asian 10.82%

Black or African American 10.26%

Hispanic or Latino 16.99%

Unknown 5.28%

White 55.94%

Gender

female 12.48%

male 87.52%

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

What are the pros and cons of being an Executive Chef?

Pros

  • Opportunity to work with high-quality ingredients

  • High salary potential

  • Prestige and recognition within the industry

  • Potential for international travel and exposure to different culinary cultures

  • Opportunities for networking and collaboration with other chefs

Cons

  • High stress levels, especially during peak service times

  • High risk of burnout due to intense workload and stress levels

  • Financial risks associated with opening a new restaurant or revamping an existing one

  • Limited career advancement opportunities beyond executive chef position

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Executive Chef career paths

Key steps to become an executive chef

  1. Explore executive chef education requirements

    Most common executive chef degrees

    Associate

    56.4 %

    Bachelor's

    26.1 %

    High School Diploma

    7.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific executive chef skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Culinary14.03%
    Food Preparation8.27%
    Customer Service5.83%
    Kitchen Operations5.81%
    Food Safety5.26%
  3. Complete relevant executive chef training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New executive chefs 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 an executive chef based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real executive chef resumes.
  4. Gain additional executive chef certifications

    Executive chef 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 executive chef certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for executive chefs include Certified Food Manager (CFM) and Certified Culinary Administrator (CCA).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research executive chef duties and responsibilities

    • Manage a kitchen of military personal and Japanese civilian chefs.
    • Cater off-premise events, parties, holiday dinners and seasonal BBQ cookouts.
    • Own and operate a full charge BBQ catering business from a 30 foot mobile kitchen.
    • Close high percentage of sales opportunities for large builder and designer accounts with strategic VIP events.
  6. Get executive chef experience

    Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become an executive chef. The most common roles before becoming an executive chef include sous chef, chef team lead and line cook.
  7. Prepare your executive chef resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your executive chef 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 an executive chef resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Executive Chef Resume templates

    Build a professional Executive Chef 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 Executive Chef resume.
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  8. Apply for executive chef jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an executive chef 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 Executive Chef Job

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Average executive chef salary

The average Executive Chef salary in the United States is $59,416 per year or $29 per hour. Executive chef salaries range between $40,000 and $87,000 per year.

Average Executive Chef Salary
$59,416 Yearly
$28.57 hourly

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How do executive chefs rate their job?

5/5

Based On 1 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Executive Chef 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
5.0
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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