Line Cook: career path and pay in the US
Where a Line Cook goes next, what each step typically pays in the United States, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 4 steps, from Line Cook to Head Chef / Executive Chef.
Also for the United Kingdom: Line Cook in the UK
The path
Step 1 · 0 to 2 years
Line Cook
$30K to $45K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Food Safety Certification (required) - Global, Culinary NVQ Level 1 (optional) - UK/EU.
Step 2 · 2 to 5 years
Senior Line Cook / Prep Cook Lead
$35K to $50K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Food Safety Certification - Global, Culinary NVQ Level 2 - UK/EU.
Step 3 · 5 to 8 years
Sous Chef / Kitchen Supervisor
$50K to $80K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Culinary Arts Certification (optional) - Global, Food Safety Certification - Global, Culinary NVQ Level 3 - UK/EU.
Step 4 · 8+ years
Head Chef / Executive Chef
$55K to $80K
Typical US 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.
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
$30K to $45K → $55K to $80K
US estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US. Indeed publishes a hourly average for Line Cook ($18.57); this band converts it at 40 hours a week. Indeed publishes a hourly average for Senior Line Cook ($21.01); this band converts it at 40 hours a week.
What the work involves
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
Knowledge areas
- Food Production
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
Education people bring
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED): 47%
- Less than a High School Diploma: 34%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree: 12%
Job Zone 2, job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Other paths from here
- Sous Chef
- Restaurant Manager
- Food & Beverage Manager
- Culinary Instructor
More Retail/Hospitality paths in the US
Related occupations in O*NET: Cooks, Short Order, Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria, Food Preparation Workers, Bakers, Cooks, Fast Food.
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SourcesSalary bands: Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US, US 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, Indeed 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.