As of June 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Sous Chef in the United States is $27, which translates to an annual salary of about $55,743.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
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A Sous Chef's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Sous Chef's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Cook I | 0-1 years | $33,836 |
| Cook II | 1-3 years | $37,677 |
| Cook III | 3-5 years | $42,439 |
| Sous Chef | 5+ years | $55,743 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Sous Cheves. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Customer Service | 6.45% |
| Foodservice | 3.29% |
| Purchasing | 1.49% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Commitment
|
$67,449 |
21%
|
|
HACCP
|
$66,892 |
20%
|
|
Preventive Maintenance
|
$61,317 |
10%
|
|
Collaboration
|
$59,645 |
7%
|
|
Cost Control
|
$59,645 |
7%
|
|
Innovation
|
$59,645 |
7%
|
Sous Chef salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $62,348. While startup companies pay approximate $52,728.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $52,728 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $55,768 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $60,209 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $62,348 |
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Sous Cheves enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Sous Chef with a Bachelor's Degree is between $49,533 and $53,608).
Sous Chef Salaries by Degree Level
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 2.1% |
| High School | 23.5% |
| Associates | 53.8% |
| Bachelors | 19.9% |
| Masters | 0.6% |
| Doctorate | 0.0% |
Understanding how a Sous Chef's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Last Updated on June 01, 2026Salaries for a Sous Chef can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $43,480 in 2023 to around $42,434 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Sous Chef salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
View More
|
| 2023 | $43,480 |
| 2024 | $43,221 |
| 2025 | $42,434 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
View More
|
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Assists the Executive Chef in the daily kitchen operations including menu development, purchasing, inventory, cost control, and sanitation. Oversees the activities of the kitchen staff and monitors food production and presentation. Resolves operational issues. Performs quality checks on ingredients and prepared dishes. Complies with all safety and food sanitation laws and regulations. Supervises, trains, and mentors staff. May require an associate degree in culinary arts or equivalent. Typically reports to an executive chef. Working team member that may validate or coordinate the work of others on a support team. Suggests improvements to process, is a knowledge resource for other team members. Has no authority for staff actions. Generally has a minimum of 2 years experience as an individual contributor. Thorough knowledge of the team processes.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Customer Service: Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Foodservice: The foodservice or catering industry includes the businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home. It includes restaurants, school and hospital cafeterias, catering operations, and many other formats.
Purchasing: Purchasing refers to a business or organization attempting to acquire goods or services to accomplish its goals. Although there are several organizations that attempt to set standards in the purchasing process, processes can vary greatly between organizations. Typically the word “purchasing” is not used interchangeably with the word “procurement”, since procurement typically includes expediting, supplier quality, and transportation and logistics (T&L) in addition to purchasing.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
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