Chef & Head Cook
Chefs and head cooks oversee the daily food preparation at restaurants and other places where food is served.
What the job is
- The work
- Chefs and head cooks oversee the daily food preparation at restaurants and other places where food is served.
BLS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Work environment
- Chefs and head cooks work in restaurants, hotels, and other food service establishments. They often work early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays. The work can be hectic and fast-paced. Most chefs and head cooks work full time.
BLS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Good fit for
- Creative, fast, steady cooks who like leading a team through early mornings, late nights and weekends.
- Career cluster
- Hospitality, Events, & Tourism
Key numbers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, pay for May 2025 (chefs and head cooks).
- Median pay
- $62,470 a year ($30.03 an hour)
BLS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Jobs in 2025
- 220,300
- Typical entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- Training after hire
- None
Job outlook, 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +7%, which BLS calls "much faster than average"
BLS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Jobs added
- +14,400 over 2025–35
- All U.S. jobs
- 3.5% over the same period, for comparison
How to become one
- The usual route
- Chefs and head cooks typically need a high school diploma and work experience to enter the occupation. Some attend a culinary program at a community college, technical school, culinary arts school, or 4-year college. Others learn through apprenticeship programs.
BLS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- In short
- Chefs and head cooks typically need a high school diploma and years of kitchen experience, often starting as line cooks. Some attend a culinary program at a community college, technical school, culinary arts school or 4-year college; others learn through apprenticeships, some registered with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- License
- Food handler card (some states, cities)
- Paying for it
- File the FAFSA (opens by October 1) for grants, work-study and federal loans; a Pell Grant pays up to $7,395 a year (2026–27). Average public four-year tuition and fees: $11,950 in-state vs $31,880 out-of-state (2025–26). Residency rules and regional discounts · Save with 2+2 transfer
- Your state
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Step-by-step roadmap
The routes step by step, the exam gates and the state license step are on one page.
Chef or head cook: years as a line cook, culinary school, or a cook apprenticeship
See the roadmap
Route 1: Kitchen helper → line cook → chef · Route 2: Culinary program (a few months to 4 years) · Route 3: Registered Apprenticeship: cook, then chief cook
More careers in Hospitality, Events, & Tourism
Open the cluster hubEvery career page in this cluster, with entry, license, pay and outlook side by side.
Every number links to the BLS page it came from, checked 21 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not recommend paid courses.