Chef: career path and pay in the UK
Where a Chef goes next, what each step typically pays in the United Kingdom, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 4 steps, from Chef / Line Cook to Executive Chef / Culinary Director.
Also for the United States: Chef in the US
The path
Step 1 · 0 to 3 years
Chef / Line Cook
£20K to £30K
Typical UK pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Culinary Arts Certification (optional) - Global, Food Safety Certification (required) - Global, Culinary NVQ Level 2 (optional) - UK/EU.
Step 2 · 3 to 7 years
Sous Chef / Senior Chef
£30K to £40K
Typical UK pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Culinary Arts Certification - Global, Food Safety Certification - Global, Culinary NVQ Level 3 - UK/EU.
Step 3 · 7 to 12 years
Head Chef / Executive Chef
£30K to £45K
Typical UK pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Culinary Arts Certification - Global, Food Safety Certification - Global, Culinary NVQ Level 4 - UK/EU, Culinary Management Certification (optional) - Global.
Step 4 · 12+ years
Executive Chef / Culinary Director
£40K to £60K
Typical UK pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Culinary Arts Certification - Global, Food Safety Certification - Global, Culinary NVQ Level 5 - UK/EU, Culinary Management Certification - Global.
Exposure and pay along the path
Exposure to AI, now to later
24% → 24%
Stays level across the path. Lower is better.
Typical pay, now to later
£20K to £30K → £40K to £60K
UK estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale UK.
What the work involves
Direct and may participate in 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.
Skills that matter most
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
Knowledge areas
- Food Production
- Production and Processing
- Customer and Personal Service
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Administration and Management
- Mathematics
Education people bring
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree: 54%
- Post-Secondary Certificate: 17%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED): 13%
Job Zone 3, job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Other paths from here
- Restaurant Manager
- Food & Beverage Director
- Culinary Consultant
- Restaurant Owner
More Retail/Hospitality paths in the UK
Related occupations in O*NET: Bakers, Cooks, Restaurant, Cooks, Private Household, Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria, Food Service Managers.
Your own role
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SourcesSalary bands: Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale UK, UK national averages by job title, retrieved September 2026Skills, knowledge and education: O*NET 31.0 Database
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CC BY 4.0
Salary estimates by job title from Glassdoor UK, Indeed UK and PayScale, retrieved September 2026. Each band runs from 20% below to 20% above the reported average, rounded to £5K. Exposure percentages and the skills listed under each step are this app's own editorial ratings, not published data.