Apprentice Chef Salary in the United States

How much does an Apprentice Chef make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Apprentice Chef in the United States is $53,444 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $64,544
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $47,635 to $59,254
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $42,346
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View as table View as graph 25% $47,635 10% $42,346 90% $64,544 75% $59,254 $53,444 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Apprentice Chef Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $59,254 $4,938 $1,140 $28
Average $53,444 $4,454 $1,028 $26
25th Percentile $47,635 $3,970 $916 $23
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Key Factors That Influence Apprentice Chef Salaries

An Apprentice 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 Apprentice Chef Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Apprentice 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $52,637
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $52,879
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $53,686
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $55,781
  • Expert (over 8 years): $57,001
Levels Salary
Entry Level Apprentice Chef$52,637
Intermediate Level Apprentice Chef$52,879
Senior Level Apprentice Chef$53,686
Specialist Level Apprentice Chef$55,781
Expert Level Apprentice Chef$57,001
$52,637 0 yr
$52,879 < 2 yrs
$53,686 2-4 yrs
$55,781 5-8 yrs
$57,001 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Apprentice 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 Apprentice Cheves. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $59,173.
  • California: $58,949.
  • Massachusetts: $58,163.

Top Paying Cities for Apprentice 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: $67,409
  • San Francisco: $66,746
  • Oakland: $65,266

What Skills Can Increase an Apprentice 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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 6.45%
Foodservice 3.29%
Purchasing 1.49%
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 an Apprentice 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
$64,667
21%
HACCP
$64,133
20%
Preventive Maintenance
$58,788
10%
Collaboration
$57,185
7%
Cost Control
$57,185
7%
Innovation
$57,185
7%
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How Education impacts an Apprentice Chef's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Apprentice 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 an Apprentice Chef with a Bachelor's Degree is between $49,533 and $53,608).

Apprentice Chef Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Apprentice 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%
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Apprentice Chef Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Apprentice 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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Apprentice Chef

Salaries for an Apprentice Chef can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $42,672 in 2023 to around $41,644 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Apprentice Chef salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Apprentice Chef Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$42,672
2024
$42,417
2025
$41,644
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $42,672
2024 $42,417
2025 $41,644
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Apprentice Chef

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Apprentice Chef

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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.)

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