What is the pay outlook for Retail & Food Services?
Job openings are high in retail and food services as more Americans spend money at stores and restaurants. While retail and food services wages are lower than the national average, wage growth is higher. Jobs in retail and food services generally require little formal education or training, making these jobs accessible to most job seekers.
Top paying industries
The top 5 paying industries for Executive Chef in United States are Hotels & Travel Accommodation with a median total pay of $91,802, Restaurants & Food Service with a median total pay of $85,304, Nonprofit & NGO with a median total pay of $82,765, Manufacturing with a median total pay of $82,355, and Government & Public Administration with a median total pay of $82,297.
Frequently asked questions about Executive Chef salaries
The average salary for Executive Chef is $93,690 per year or $45 per hour, with top earners making up to $152,846 (90th percentile). Typically, pay ranges from $73,109 (25th percentile) to $121,780 (75th percentile) annually. Salary estimates are based on 6688 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Executive Chef employees.
The highest salary for Executive Chef is $121,780 per year, $10,148 per month or $59 per hour.
The lowest salary for Executive Chef is $73,109 per year, $6,092 per month or $35 per hour.
Anonymous Glassdoor reviews of executive chef salaries show that 66% are happy with what they're paid. There's the opportunity to grow depending on practical experience and specialist training, with a chance to earn an average of $24,724.51 on top of your base salary.
Beginning the executive chef career path requires you to start from a basic chef job and work your way up over time — those with more experience and higher quality certifications and degrees often earn more than entry-level chefs. The salary as an executive chef ranges from $58,542.93 to $152,845.80, and compensation can heavily depend on your practical skills.
As you don't require any formal training to get into an entry-level chef's position, making more money as an executive chef relies on experience and networking. The more hands-on experience you have in a kitchen working with different cuisines and cooking methods, the more you can make. High-profile restaurants may pay a higher salary, so network with other professionals in the industry to find out about moving into these positions. Choosing to study at a culinary school to gain further qualifications and formal training can boost your abilities in the kitchen and teach you further skills like managing staff and developing recipes — all skills worthy of higher pay.
Negotiating your salary as an executive chef isn't just about proving your ability to make delicious food — you'll need to prove that you've helped the business in other ways, too. Approaching negotiations in your current position or after a new job offer can involve demonstrating how you have saved the company money, improved customer satisfaction, or otherwise benefited the restaurant or business in a measurable way. Also, check the average salary of similar establishments in your area for executive chefs—it's vital you compare what you earn now to what you could earn, and give your manager a specific figure you'd be happy to receive.
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