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Sous Chef Salary in the United States

How much does a Sous Chef make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Sous Chef in the United States is $49,600 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $24.

However, a Sous Chef's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $59,532
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $44,697 to $54,799
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $40,233
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Sous Chef Salaries

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.

How Experience Level Affects Sous Chef Salaries?

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:

  • Cook I (0-1 years): $33,835
  • Cook II (1-3 years): $37,682
  • Cook III (3-5 years): $42,451
  • Sous Chef (5+ years): $49,600
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Cook I0-1 years$33,835
Cook II1-3 years$37,682
Cook III3-5 years$42,451
Sous Chef5+ years$49,600
View as Graph

How Do Sous Chef Salaries Vary from State to State?

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:
  • District of Columbia: $54,917.
  • California: $54,709.
  • Massachusetts: $53,980.

Top Paying Cities for Sous Cheves

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $62,560
  • San Francisco: $61,876
  • Oakland: $60,572

What Skills Can Increase a Sous Chef's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 6.45% Job Postings): 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 (Mentioned in 3.29% Job Postings): 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 (Mentioned in 1.49% Job Postings): 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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 6.45%
Foodservice 3.29%
Purchasing 1.49%
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What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Sous Chef's salary.

  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • HACCP: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Preventive Maintenance: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Commitment $60,016
21%
HACCP $59,520
20%
Preventive Maintenance $54,560
10%
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Sous Chef Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Sous Chef salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $55,430. While startup companies pay approximate $46,888.

Sous Chef Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $46,888
Growth Stage 51~500 $49,589
Established 501~5000 $53,525
Enterprise 5000+ $55,430

Sous Chef Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Sous Chef roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 70% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 35% above the average. In contrast, Sous Chef positions in Telecom or Financial Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Sous Chef as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Sous Chef

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$66,960$32.035%
Energy & Utilities$64,480$31.030%
Internet$62,000$30.025%
Aerospace & Defense$59,520$29.020%
Pharmaceuticals$59,520$29.020%

How Education impacts a Sous Chef's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Sous Chef enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Sous Chef with a Bachelor's Degree is between $49,533 and $53,608.

Sous Chef Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Sous Chef
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%
View as Graph

Sous Chef Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

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 September 01, 2026
$44,697
Average $49,600/year
$54,799
$3,725
Average $4,133/month
$4,567
$860
Average $954/week
$1,054
$21
Average $24/hour
$26
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $54,799 $4,567 $1,054 $26
Average $49,600 $4,133 $954 $24
25th Percentile $44,697 $3,725 $860 $21

Sous Chef Salary Growth & Career Path

Sous Chef

Next Role

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Sous Chef, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Chef $59,111 19%
Pastry Chef $58,635 18%

Most common benefits for Sous Chef

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Sous Chef

Here are companies hiring for Sous Chef and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Sous Chef

1. Where can a Sous Chef earn the most?

A Sous Chef's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Sous Chef earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Sous Chef is $62,560.

2. What is the highest pay for Sous Chef?

The highest pay for Sous Chef is $59,532.

3. What is the lowest pay for Sous Chef?

The lowest pay for Sous Chef is $40,233.

4. What are the responsibilities of Sous Chef?

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.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Sous Chef?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Sous Chef roles, with salaries approximately 35% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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