How much does an Executive Chef make?

The average salary for an Executive Chef is $92,251 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 5530 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by an Executive Chef employees in United States.

The highest salary for an Executive Chef in United States is $112,659 per year.

The lowest salary for an Executive Chef in United States is $75,948 per year.

If you are thinking of becoming an Executive Chef or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of an Executive Chef.

Anonymous Glassdoor reviews of executive chef salaries show that 67% 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 $7,756.65 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 $63,794.23 to $134,573.50, 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.