To become a chef, you'll usually start in a kitchen as a line cook and work your way up, learning through on-the-job training, a culinary program or an apprenticeship. BLS says chefs and head cooks typically need a high school diploma plus five years or more of related work experience before reaching the role.
Culinary school can speed up the learning, but experience is what gets you the title. Here's how the path works.
Figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook, read on 26 October 2026.
How to become a chef, step by step
- Get into a kitchen. Most chefs start as line cooks and learn from the chefs they work for.
- Choose how you'll train. Options include a culinary program at a community college, technical school, culinary arts school or 4-year college, an apprenticeship, a mentorship under an experienced chef, or training in the Armed Forces.
- Get a food handler's certification if required. Some states and localities require it.
- Work up the line. Sous chef is the kitchen's second-in-command and runs the kitchen when the head chef is away.
- Step up to chef or head cook. Promotion usually follows years of experience.
Experience matters more than the diploma
This is the part culinary school brochures skip. BLS lists the typical entry requirement as a high school diploma plus five years or more of work experience in a related occupation. A culinary degree doesn't replace those years. It mainly makes you better and faster while you put them in.
If you want structure without tuition debt, look at apprenticeships. BLS says programs run by culinary institutes, industry associations or trade unions combine instruction with paid on-the-job training, and some are registered with the U.S. Department of Labor.
What chefs earn
| Employer | Median pay, May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Traveler accommodation (hotels) | $74,380 |
| Amusement, gambling and recreation | $72,830 |
| Food services and drinking places | $60,580 |
| Healthcare and social assistance | $59,550 |
Those figures are as of October 2026. Overall, the median for chefs and head cooks was $62,470, with the lowest 10% earning less than $37,900 and the highest 10% more than $98,560. BLS says pay is usually highest in upscale restaurants and hotels, so hotel kitchens are worth a look.
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of chefs and head cooks to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 25,200 openings each year. There were 220,300 jobs in 2025.
What chefs do
- Checking the freshness of food and ingredients
- Supervising cooks and other kitchen staff
- Developing recipes and deciding how dishes are presented
- Planning menus and keeping meal quality consistent
- Ordering and tracking food and supplies
- Monitoring sanitation and kitchen safety
BLS highlights business skills for chefs who run their own place, along with communication, creativity, dexterity with knives and leadership. Some chefs use social media to promote new menu items and respond to reviews. If you're thinking about your own small food business, these ChatGPT prompts for food trucks help with menus and marketing, and these AI tools for restaurant bookings take admin off your plate.
What the hours are like
Chefs and head cooks often work early mornings, late evenings, weekends and holidays, and BLS describes the work as hectic and fast-paced. Most work full time. Chefs who run their own restaurant or catering business are often busy with both kitchen and office work.
Is the kitchen life for you?
- Can I handle the hours? Evenings, weekends and holidays come with the job.
- Will I learn on the job or at school? Both work, but experience is non-negotiable.
- Do I want to run a kitchen or a business? Executive chefs spend more time on menus, purchasing and staff.
Types of chef roles
Chef isn't one job. BLS says executive chefs, head cooks and chefs de cuisine mainly oversee the kitchen. They coordinate sous chefs and cooks, design the menu, review food and drink purchases and often train staff, and some executive chefs spend most of their time on admin rather than cooking. Sous chefs supervise the cooks, prepare meals and report to the head chef.
You'll use step-in coolers, high-quality knives, meat slicers and grinders, and some chefs use scheduling and purchasing software for admin. If you'd rather cook than manage, it's worth knowing that the higher you climb, the more your day shifts toward menus, costs and people. That's not a bad thing, but it's a different job, and you'll want to be sure it's the one you're after.
My verdict
Becoming a chef is earned on the line, not in the classroom. Get into a good kitchen early, learn from the best chefs you can find, and use culinary school or an apprenticeship to sharpen your skills rather than replace experience. Hotels and upscale restaurants paid the most, so aim there once you're ready to step up.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need culinary school to become a chef?
No. BLS says many chefs learn through work experience, apprenticeships or mentorships. Culinary programs are common but not required.
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How long does it take to become a chef?
BLS lists five years or more of related work experience as typical before becoming a chef or head cook.
How much do chefs make?
BLS reports a median of $62,470 a year for chefs and head cooks in May 2025, and $74,380 in hotels.
What's a sous chef?
The kitchen's second-in-command, who supervises cooks and runs the kitchen when the head chef is away.
Do chefs need a license?
Some states and localities require a food handler's certification. Other certifications are optional.
Is being a chef a growing career?
Yes. BLS projects 7% growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 25,200 openings a year.
Can you train to be a chef through an apprenticeship?
Yes. Some apprenticeships combine instruction with paid training, and some are registered with the U.S. Department of Labor.
What does an executive chef do?
Oversees the kitchen, designs the menu, reviews food and drink purchases and often trains staff. Some focus mainly on admin.
What skills do chefs need?
BLS highlights business skills, communication, creativity, dexterity with knives and leadership.
Do chefs work weekends?
Usually. BLS says chefs often work early mornings, late evenings, weekends and holidays.
Where do chefs earn the most?
Among the employers BLS lists, hotels and other traveler accommodation paid the highest median for chefs and head cooks, at $74,380 in May 2025.
Can you learn to be a chef in the military?
Yes. BLS says some chefs and head cooks learn their skills through training in the Armed Forces.
