- 2,062chef jobs live right now, from apprentice to head chef
- 25employers hiring chefs
- £13.25–£17.96typical top hourly rate, from commis to head chef
- 14 of 25employers mention tronc, tips or service charge on top
What Does a Chef Do?
Chefs prepare, cook and present food to the standard the kitchen sets, service after service. We read 124 adverts from the 25 employers currently hiring chefs, and these were the parts of the job they mentioned most.
- Cooking to specMaking every dish the same way, to the recipe and presentation the kitchen sets. Mentioned by 20 of the 25 employers.
- Food safety and hygieneSafe storage, preparation and hygiene, and knowing the allergen rules. Mentioned by 21 of the 25.
- Stock, ordering and wasteChecking deliveries, rotating stock and keeping waste down. Mentioned by 22 of the 25.
- Busy servicesKeeping the standard up when the kitchen is under pressure. Mentioned by 18 of the 25.
- Fresh cookingWorking with fresh ingredients and cooking from scratch. Mentioned by 13 of the 25.
- Training othersShowing newer chefs the ropes, which matters more as you move up. Mentioned by 14 of the 25.
Where Chefs Work
The chef jobs on our site aren't only in restaurants. Kitchens hiring right now include:
- Pubs and pub restaurants, the largest group by far.
- Restaurant chains and independent restaurants.
- Hotels.
- Care homes, where adverts mention hotel and restaurant standards without split shifts.
- Airports and stations, where kitchens can run around the clock.
- Store cafés and department store restaurants.
- Contract catering.
The Chef Ladder
Kitchens have a clear order of seniority. These are the levels in our adverts, from the way in to running the kitchen:
- Apprentice or Commis Chef: the starting point. You learn the menu and support the chefs above you. One employer's apprenticeship leads to a Level 2 Production Chef qualification over 15 months.
- Chef de Partie: in charge of a section of the kitchen. Adverts ask for the confidence to run a section on your own.
- Sous Chef: number two in the kitchen. You support the Head Chef and help lead the kitchen team.
- Head Chef or Kitchen Manager: responsible for the whole kitchen, from food standards and stock to selecting, training and developing the team.
One large pub group says that on average around 200 of its chefs are promoted to Head Chef every year. Another employer says most of its trainee head chefs are running their own kitchen within six months.
Do You Need Experience?
To start, no. Apprentice and commis roles are where you learn. 8 of the 25 employers mention apprenticeships, and 22 mention training.
To move up, yes. From chef de partie upwards, adverts ask for experience in a busy kitchen. Head chef adverts look for experience of leading and training a team.
Some roles need you to be 18 or over for certain tasks or shifts.
What Employers Look For
How many of the 25 employers mention each quality in their adverts:
What Does a Chef Earn?
Typical top hourly rate at each level, taken from the employers whose adverts show pay. Each employer counts once, so no single company sets the figure.
£37,375–£41,300a year
Senior chefs are often paid a salary instead. The typical advertised salary is £37,375 for a sous chef and £41,300 for a head chef. Head chef salaries in our adverts reach £51,000.
- Tronc, tips and service charge. 14 of the 25 employers mention them on top of pay.
- Nights can pay more. Airport kitchens advertise an extra £1.20 to £1.50 an hour between midnight and 6am.
- Food on shift. 11 of the 25 mention free meals or food on shift. 20 mention a staff discount, 11 a bonus and 10 a pension.
Hours and Shifts
- Full-time means 30 to 48 hours a week. That was the range in the adverts we checked, and part-time roles are advertised too.
- Expect evenings and weekends. 8 of the 25 employers mention them in their adverts.
- Not every kitchen does split shifts. Some employers, such as care homes and travel kitchens, advertise no split shifts and days off together where possible.
Job Titles to Search For
- Apprentice Chef
- Commis Chef
- Chef
- Breakfast Chef
- Pastry Chef
- Chef de Partie
- Junior Sous Chef
- Sous Chef
- Head Chef
- Kitchen Manager
How to Get Started
- Start where you are. With no experience, search apprentice and commis roles. If you've worked in a kitchen, chef and chef de partie roles are open to you.
- Think beyond restaurants. Care homes, hotels and travel kitchens often offer different hours from a pub or restaurant.
- Upload your CV. Employers can then find you as well as the other way round.
- Prepare for the interview. Read our 20 common interview questions before the day.
Ready to start?
There are 2,062 chef jobs live right now, from apprentice to head chef.
