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Best chef jobs

Chefs have the job of preparing, cooking and plating up food for customers.

Chefs work in kitchens that can be found in:

  • Restaurants
  • Pubs
  • Bars
  • Hotels
  • Hospitals
  • Schools/ colleges
  • Ships
  • The military
  • Private catering events

There are a few types of chef jobs. These are:

  • Apprentice/ trainee chef. This can also be called a commis chef.
  • Section chef. This can also be called a chef de partie.
  • Sous chef. This is the second-in-command chef.
  • Head chef. This can also be called an executive chef or a chef du cuisine.

Each of these types of chef jobs have different tasks. You can read up on what different chef jobs are here.

In general, a chef job may involve:

  • Planning menus
  • Ordering and quality controlling ingredients and kitchen equipment
  • Managing budgets
  • Prepping meat and fish for cooking
  • Cleaning and prepping other ingredients for cooking
  • Cooking food under time pressure
  • Plating up and presenting food
  • Maintaining hygiene, health and safety and licensing laws
  • Working as part of a kitchen team

Chef work is physical. You may spend a lot of time on your feet.

You may have to work early mornings, late nights, weekends and bank holidays.

If you want to apply for a chef job, you might need the following:

  • Kitchen experience and training
  • The right to work in the UK

Qualifications aren’t essential, but can help. These can include a degree, a college diploma or an apprenticeship.

You can be promoted to a junior chef job from a kitchen assistant job.

Where are the best chefs jobs?

  1. 1= Wagamama
    6.3
  2. 1= NHS
    6.3
  3. 3 TGI Fridays
    5.9
  4. 4 Aramark
    5.8
  5. 5= The Restaurant Group
    5.7
  6. 5= Prezzo
    5.7
  7. 7= CH&CO
    5.6
  8. 7= Greene King
    5.6
  9. 7= Bupa
    5.6
  10. 10= Compass Group
    5.5
  11. 10= Mitchells & Butlers
    5.5
  12. 10= Pizza Express
    5.5

Handy to know about chefs

How much do chefs earn per hour?

£8.30–11.00

From 343 chefs

How much notice do people get of their shifts?

51%
22%
9%
14%
3%

Based on 434 chefs

How often do people get paid?

29%
5%
24%
42%

Based on 443 chefs

How are people paid?

71%
by the hour
29%
an annual salary

Based on 482 chefs

What contracts are people on?

16%
5%
32%
48%

Based on 341 chefs

Who’s hiring chefs?

  1. Four Seasons Health Care

    21 recent jobs

  2. HC One

    18 recent jobs

  3. Parkdean Resorts

    12 recent jobs

  4. Sodexo

    7 recent jobs

  5. Wagamama

    4 recent jobs

  6. Care UK

    4 recent jobs

  7. Barchester Healthcare

    3 recent jobs

  8. Bupa

    3 recent jobs

  9. Caring Homes

    3 recent jobs

  10. Elysium Healthcare

    2 recent jobs