Chef Wages

What it means to be a Chef in Food Service

Wages of chefs, cooks, and food preparation workers in the USA depend greatly on the part of the country and the type of establishment in which they are employed.

Wages usually are highest in elegant restaurants and hotels, where many executive chefs are employed. Median hourly earnings of head cooks and chefs were $12.07 in 2000. The middle 50 percent earned between $8.98 and $16.75. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $7.39, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $22.77 per hour. Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest number of head cooks and chefs in 2000 were:

Miscellaneous amusement and recreation services $16.50
Hotels and motels $15.78
Eating and drinking palces $11.03

Median hourly earnings of restaurant cooks were $8.72 in 2000. The middle 50 percent earned between $7.35 and $10.33. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $6.30, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $12.43 per hour. Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest number of restaurant cooks in 2000 were:

Hotels and motels $9.97
Miscellaneous amusement and recreation services $9.68
Eating and drinking places $8.57

Median hourly earnings of cooks in fast-food restaurants were $6.53 in 2000. The middle 50 percent earned between $5.90 and $7.53. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $5.49, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $8.43 per hour. Median hourly earnings in eating and drinking places, the industry employing the largest number of fast-food cooks, were $6.52 in 2000.

Median hourly earnings of short-order cooks were $7.55 in 2000. The middle 50 percent earned between $6.32 and $9.20. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $5.67, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $10.83 per hour. Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest number of short-order cooks in 2000 were:

Hotels and motels $8.66
Miscellaneous amusement and recreation services $7.94
Eating and drinking places $7.57
Gasoline service stations $6.87
Grocery stores $6.60

Median hourly earnings of institution and cafeteria cooks were $8.22 in 2000. The middle 50 percent earned between $6.70 and $10.24. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $5.84, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $12.53 per hour. Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest number of institution and cafeteria cooks in 2000 were:

Hospitals $9.37
Nursing and personal care facilities $8.50
Eating and drinking places $8.29
Elementary and secondary schools $7.65
Child day care services $7.52

Median hourly earnings of food preparation workers were $7.38 in 2000. The middle 50 percent earned between $6.28 and $8.81. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $5.67, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $10.65 per hour. Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest number of food preparation workers in 2000 were:

Elementary and secondary schools $8.14
Hospitals $8.12
Grocery stores $7.90
Nursing and personal care facilities $7.56
Eating and drinking places $6.88

Some employers provide employees with uniforms and free meals, but Federal law permits employers to deduct from their employees' wages the cost or fair value of any meals or lodging provided, and some employers do so. Chefs, cooks, and food preparation workers who work full time often receive typical benefits, but part-time workers usually do not.

In some large hotels and restaurants, kitchen workers belong to unions. The principal unions are the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union and the Service Employees International Union.

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Copyright © 2003 Ronin Consulting
Last modified: December 05, 2009