Sous Chef: career path and pay in the US
Where a Sous Chef goes next, what each step typically pays in the United States, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 3 steps, from Sous Chef to Executive Chef / Culinary Director.
Also for the United Kingdom: Sous Chef in the UK
The path
Step 1 · 2 to 5 years
Sous Chef
$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 (required) - Global, Culinary NVQ Level 3 (optional) - UK/EU.
Step 2 · 5 to 8 years
Senior Sous Chef / Head Chef
$50K 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.
Step 3 · 8 to 15 years
Executive Chef / Culinary Director
$70K to $100K
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 5 - UK/EU, Culinary Management Certification (optional) - 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
$50K to $80K → $70K to $100K
US estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US.
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
- Head Chef
- Restaurant Manager
- Food & Beverage Director
- Culinary Consultant
More Retail/Hospitality paths in the US
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 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.