Junior Sous Chef Salary in the United States

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

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Junior Sous Chef in the United States is $53,606 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $63,980
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $47,927 to $59,036
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $42,756
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View as table View as graph 25% $47,927 10% $42,756 90% $63,980 75% $59,036 $53,606 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Junior Sous Chef Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $59,036 $4,920 $1,135 $28
Average $53,606 $4,467 $1,031 $26
25th Percentile $47,927 $3,994 $922 $23
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Key Factors That Influence Junior Sous Chef Salaries

A Junior 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.

Top Paying Cities for Junior 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: $67,614
  • San Francisco: $66,873
  • Oakland: $65,464

What Skills Can Increase a Junior 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.
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 a Junior 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
$64,864
21%
HACCP
$64,328
20%
Preventive Maintenance
$58,967
10%
Collaboration
$57,359
7%
Cost Control
$57,359
7%
Innovation
$57,359
7%
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Junior Sous Chef Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Junior 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, Junior Sous Chef positions in Telecom or Financial Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Junior Sous Chef as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Junior Sous Chef

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$72,369$35.035%
Energy & Utilities$69,688$34.030%
Internet$67,008$32.025%
Aerospace & Defense$64,328$31.020%
Pharmaceuticals$64,328$31.020%

How Education impacts a Junior Sous Chef's Salary?

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

Junior Sous Chef Salaries by Degree Level

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

Understanding how a Junior 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 July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Junior Sous Chef

Salaries for a Junior Sous Chef can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $42,728 in 2023 to around $41,699 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Junior Sous Chef salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Junior Sous Chef Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$42,728
2024
$42,473
2025
$41,699
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $42,728
2024 $42,473
2025 $41,699
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Junior Sous Chef

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

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

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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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