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Create CVUnderstanding chef salaries in the UK goes far beyond average figures. What actually determines your earnings is a combination of role positioning, kitchen hierarchy, employer type, location, and how your CV signals value to recruiters and hiring managers.
This guide breaks down chef salaries from an insider hiring perspective. You’ll learn what chefs really earn at each level, how employers decide salary bands, and what separates low-paid chefs from those earning £60K+.
At a high level, chef salaries in the UK typically fall between £22,000 and £45,000. However, this range is misleading without context.
Here’s how it breaks down realistically:
Entry-level chefs: £20,000 to £24,000
Commis Chef: £22,000 to £26,000
Chef de Partie: £26,000 to £34,000
Sous Chef: £32,000 to £45,000
Head Chef: £40,000 to £70,000+
Executive Chef: £60,000 to £100,000+
Recruiter Insight:
Salary is not driven purely by experience. It’s driven by revenue responsibility, team size, and kitchen complexity. Two chefs with identical experience can earn vastly different salaries depending on where they work.
Hiring managers don’t pay based on years. They pay based on impact and risk.
Key salary drivers:
Type of establishment
Kitchen size and turnover
Cuisine complexity
Leadership responsibility
Brand reputation
Example:
A Sous Chef in a Michelin-starred restaurant may earn less than a Sous Chef in a high-volume hotel because the commercial pressure is different.
Typical salary: £22,000 to £26,000
Focus: Learning, prep, supporting senior chefs
Recruiter Perspective:
At this level, salary is low because you’re still a cost centre. Employers invest in training rather than expecting output.
Typical salary: £26,000 to £34,000
Responsible for a section (grill, pastry, sauce)
What increases salary here:
Running a high-pressure section independently
Experience in premium kitchens
Speed and consistency
Typical salary: £32,000 to £45,000
Second-in-command, managing kitchen operations
Hiring Manager Expectation:
Staff management
Stock control
Cost management
Maintaining standards under pressure
This is where salary divergence starts.
Strong Sous Chefs can command £45K+, weak ones stay stuck at £32K.
Key responsibility shift:
You move from cooking → running a business unit
P&L accountability
Menu engineering
Team hiring and retention
Supplier negotiation
Recruiter Insight:
At Head Chef level, salary is tied to commercial performance, not culinary skill alone.
Typical salary: £60,000 to £100,000+
Oversees multiple kitchens or large operations
Focus on strategy, branding, and profitability
Top-tier candidates here operate like business leaders.
Location dramatically affects chef salaries.
Higher salaries: +15% to +30%
Higher cost of living offsets gains
Competitive salaries
Strong hospitality sectors
Lower salaries
Often include accommodation benefits
Hidden Insight:
Live-in roles can effectively increase your net income significantly.
Independent: Lower pay, more creative freedom
Fine dining: Prestige, sometimes lower base pay
Chains: Structured pay, bonuses possible
More stable salaries
Clear progression paths
Larger teams = higher pay at senior levels
Extremely high salaries
Tax advantages (depending on structure)
Predictable hours
Competitive salaries
Less creative pressure
Salary isn’t random. It’s assessed during CV screening within seconds.
Managed team size
Revenue responsibility
Cost control achievements
Menu development impact
Experience in high-pressure environments
Job hopping without progression
No leadership evidence
Generic responsibilities listed
No measurable outcomes
Weak Example:
Responsible for managing kitchen operations
Good Example:
Reduced food waste by 18% and improved gross margin by 6% through supplier renegotiation and portion control optimisation
Hiring managers want to see:
Cost control
Profitability
Efficiency improvements
Without these, you look junior even if experienced.
Many chefs apply for Head Chef roles but present themselves like Sous Chefs.
Don’t stay too long at one level
Progress every 1.5–3 years
Moving from:
Independent → Hotel
Restaurant → Private sector
…can instantly increase salary by 20% to 50%
Chefs who understand business earn more.
Focus on:
GP margins
Supplier negotiation
Labour cost control
Senior salaries require:
Team management
Hiring experience
Conflict resolution
Your CV must communicate:
Leadership
Financial impact
Scale of responsibility
Top earners do things differently.
Luxury hotels
Michelin-level kitchens
Private clients
Awards
Media features
Reputation
Multiple offers
Proven track record
Strong references
Candidate Name: James Thornton
Job Title: Head Chef
Location: London, UK
Professional Summary
Results-driven Head Chef with 12+ years of experience leading high-volume and fine dining kitchens. Proven track record of increasing profitability, reducing costs, and building high-performing culinary teams. Expert in menu engineering, supplier negotiation, and operational efficiency.
Core Skills
Kitchen Leadership
Cost Control & Budget Management
Menu Development
Staff Training & Development
Inventory & Supplier Management
High-Volume Service Execution
Professional Experience
Head Chef – The Kensington Dining Group, London
2019 – Present
Increased kitchen gross profit margin by 9% within 12 months
Reduced food waste by 22% through process optimisation
Led team of 18 chefs across multiple service lines
Designed seasonal menus increasing customer retention by 15%
Managed annual food budget exceeding £1.2M
Sous Chef – The Grand Hotel, Manchester
2016 – 2019
Supported Head Chef in managing a 5-star hotel kitchen
Improved service efficiency during peak hours by 25%
Supervised team of 10 chefs
Maintained consistent quality under high-pressure service
Chef de Partie – Artisan Kitchen, Leeds
2013 – 2016
Managed grill section serving 300+ covers per day
Maintained zero hygiene violations across 3 years
Assisted in menu development and seasonal specials
Education
Diploma in Professional Cookery – Westminster Kingsway College
Certifications
Level 3 Food Safety & Hygiene
The biggest misconception is that experience equals pay.
In reality:
Value = Pay
Responsibility = Pay
Commercial impact = Pay
Two chefs with identical backgrounds can earn £30K vs £70K depending on how they position themselves and where they work.
If you want to increase your chef salary in the UK:
Stop thinking like a cook
Start thinking like a business operator
That shift alone is what separates average earners from top-tier chefs.
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