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National

Median wages (2008) $18.64 hourly, $38,770 annual
Employment (2006) 115,000 employees
Projected growth (2006-2016) Average (7% to 13%)
Projected need (2006-2016) 23,000 additional employees
35-1011.00 - Chefs and Head Cooks

Direct the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. May plan and price menu items, order supplies, and keep records and accounts. May participate in cooking.

Sample of reported job titles: Sous Chef, Kitchen Manager, Chef, Cook, Executive Chef, Banquet Chef, Executive Sous Chef, Head Cook, Pastry Chef, Food and Beverage Director

Tasks

  • Check the quality of raw and cooked food products to ensure that standards are met.
  • Monitor sanitation practices to ensure that employees follow standards and regulations.
  • Check the quantity and quality of received products.
  • Order or requisition food and other supplies needed to ensure efficient operation.
  • Supervise and coordinate activities of cooks and workers engaged in food preparation.
  • Inspect supplies, equipment, and work areas to ensure conformance to established standards.
  • Determine how food should be presented, and create decorative food displays.
  • Instruct cooks and other workers in the preparation, cooking, garnishing, and presentation of food.
  • Estimate amounts and costs of required supplies, such as food and ingredients.
  • Collaborate with other personnel to plan and develop recipes and menus, taking into account such factors as seasonal availability of ingredients and the likely number of customers.

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Tools & Technology

Tools used in this occupation:

Commercial use cutlery — Chefs' knives; Kitchen shears; Oyster knives; Paring knives
Commercial use food slicers — Bread slicers; Mandolines; Meat slicers; Slicing machines
Commercial use graters — Box graters; Fruit zesters; Plane graters; Shredders
Commercial use ranges — Electric ovens; Electric stoves; Gas ovens; Gas stoves
Domestic kitchen or food thermometers — Instant-read pocket thermometers; Meat thermometers; Refrigerator thermometers

Technology used in this occupation:

Analytical or scientific software — Axxya Systems Nutritionist Pro software; Food Software.com IPro Restaurant Inventory, Recipe & Menu Software; GNOME Gnutrition *; Nutrition analysis software
Data base user interface and query software — Barrington Software CookenPro Commercial; CostGuard software; Culinary Software Services ChefTec; ReServe Interactive Table Management Software
Enterprise resource planning ERP software — Sage Software MAS90 ERP
Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software — EGS F&B Control
Office suite software — Microsoft Office software

* Software developed by a government agency and/or distributed as freeware or shareware.

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