What is the salary and career path for a sous chef?
A sous chef is folded into the broad Chefs and Head Cooks code (SOC 35-1011), which groups sous chefs with head cooks and chefs, so the OEWS May 2025 median is $62,470 a year ($30.03 an hour), spanning $37,900 at the 10th percentile to $98,560 at the 90th. As the executive chef's number two, sous chefs commonly sit in the lower-to-middle tiers early on, rising with experience and specialty. BLS projects a strong 7.1% growth over 2024–2034, with roughly 24,400 openings a year. No license is required, though ServSafe and ACF's Certified Sous Chef are standard.
- Sous Chefs earn a national median $62,470/yr ($30.03/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 35-1011); the top 10% clear $98,560.
- No license is required, but ServSafe is standard and the ACF Certified Sous Chef (CSC) formalizes the role.
- BLS projects a strong 7.1% growth for 2024–34, with roughly 24,400 openings a year in the code.
- The sous-chef seat is the pipeline to executive chef, with the code topping out near $98,560.
Career Path
How do you become a sous chef?
Line Cook
Runs a station under the sous chef; pay near the BLS 10th percentile.
Sous Chef
Runs the line and supervises the brigade as second-in-command — in the lower-to-middle tiers of the code.
Senior / Executive Sous Chef
Leads a large kitchen's line and often multiple cooks; earnings climb toward the $78,750 upper quartile.
Executive Chef
Takes over the kitchen's menu and cost ownership; top-tier pay toward the $98,560 90th percentile.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays sous chefs the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 35-1011. National median: $62,470. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does sous chef pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles sous chefs most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: sous chefs rank 2 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +7.1% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly sous chefs clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 35-1011 (sous chefs) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do sous chefs need?
Food-safety certification standard for anyone supervising a kitchen line. See all state licences →
American Culinary Federation credential validating sous-chef-level culinary and supervisory skill.
Local food-handler and allergen-awareness certifications required to work and supervise in a kitchen.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do sous chefs use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 35-1011
Salary Levers
How do sous chefs earn above the $62,470 BLS median?
Kitchen size and volume
Running the line at a large, high-volume kitchen moves sous chefs up from the $37,900 entry tier toward the $62,470 median.
ACF certification and specialty
A Certified Sous Chef and specialized skills lift earning power toward the $78,750 upper quartile.
Promotion to executive chef
Stepping up to run the kitchen pushes earnings toward the $98,560 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a sous chef worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 35-1011. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Sous Chef Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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