Chef
Also advertised as: Chef, Chef de Partie, Commis Chef, Development Chef, Head Chef, Kitchen Assistant
Prepares and cooks food to standard, and helps run the kitchen section.
What the job involves
Chefs work a section under pressure, prepare and cook to spec, manage stock and waste, and keep food safety right. Progression from commis to head chef can be quick for people who are reliable and calm during service.
Typical responsibilities
- Prepare and cook dishes to specification
- Run a kitchen section during service
- Manage stock rotation and waste
- Maintain food safety and hygiene records
- Train junior kitchen staff
Common employers
- Restaurants
- Hotels
- Contract caterers
- Schools and hospitals
- Pubs
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£22,000 – £27,000 a year
With experience
£30,000 – £45,000 a year
Typical hours
Split shifts, evenings and weekends, often 45 to 50 hours
Working environment
Commercial kitchens
Remote working
on_site
Demand for this work
high
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Cooking technique
- Food safety
- Working under pressure
- Stock control
- Team communication
Transferable skills you may already have
- Kitchen assistant work
- Working fast in a team
- Following recipes precisely
Requirements employers ask for
- Cooking technique
- Food safety
- Working under pressure
- Stock control
- Team communication
- Level 2 Food Safety
- Food hygiene certification
Useful but not essential
- Kitchen assistant work
- Working fast in a team
- Following recipes precisely
- Level 3 Professional Cookery
- Level 4 Senior Culinary Chef
Helpful qualifications
- Level 3 Professional Cookery
- Level 4 Senior Culinary Chef
Licences and checks
- Food hygiene certification
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Commis Chef (Level 2)
- Chef de Partie (Level 3)
- Senior Culinary Chef (Level 4)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Professional cookery
- Related subject: Hospitality
Where this career can lead
next
Sous Chef
next
Head Chef
next
Kitchen Manager
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Fast progression for reliable people
- Skills work anywhere in the world
- Creative craft
What people find hard
- Unsocial hours and high pressure
- Physically hot and demanding
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a chef?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a chef earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £22,000 to £27,000 a year, rising towards £45,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Kitchen assistant work, Working fast in a team, Following recipes precisely.
Related careers
Bar and Waiting Staff
Serves food and drink, looks after guests and keeps service running smoothly.
Hotel Manager
Runs a hotel: guest experience, staff, revenue, standards and budgets.
Events Coordinator
Plans and delivers events, from logistics and suppliers to the day itself.
Restaurant Manager
Runs the daily operation of a restaurant, from staffing to customer experience and profit.
Sous Chef
Deputises for the head chef, running sections of the kitchen and supervising chefs.
Kitchen Manager
Manages the business side of a kitchen, including staffing, budgets and compliance.
Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
Read how our career data is built and reviewed, or tell us if something here is wrong.