What do chefs earn in the UK in 2026? A full breakdown of chef salaries by brigade rank, restaurant type, and location, with an honest look at the hours behind the pay.
The gap between the romanticised image of professional cooking and the financial reality of working in a UK kitchen is stark. Chef salaries have improved in recent years, post pandemic hospitality shortages forced wages upward, but the profession still asks more of its workers per hour than almost any other, for pay that often falls short of expectations. Here is what the industry actually pays in 2026.
| Role | Typical annual salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen Porter / Kitchen Assistant | £19,000–£22,000 | Often National Living Wage level |
| Commis Chef | £20,000–£25,000 | Entry level; typically apprenticeship or college trained |
| Chef de Partie (CDP) | £26,000–£35,000 | Section responsibility; 3–5 years experience |
| Sous Chef | £32,000–£45,000 | Second in command; runs service in HC absence |
| Head Chef | £40,000–£65,000 | Wide range depending on establishment type |
| Executive Chef | £55,000–£90,000 | Multi site or large hotel; menu development focus |
| Pastry Chef (specialist) | £28,000–£55,000 | Premium in fine dining and hotel bakery |
| Private Chef (household) | £45,000–£80,000+ | Live in arrangements may include accommodation |
| Yacht / Travel Chef | £40,000–£80,000+ | Tax efficient arrangements sometimes available |
The type of establishment you work in has a profound effect on your salary ceiling and progression speed. Not all kitchens are equal.
| Establishment type | Head chef salary range | Career notes |
|---|---|---|
| Michelin-starred restaurant | £45,000–£80,000+ | Prestige; career defining; often very long hours |
| Independent fine dining | £42,000–£70,000 | Creative freedom; salary varies by success |
| 5-star hotel | £55,000–£90,000 | Multiple outlets; management focus; better benefits |
| Pub with rooms / gastropub | £32,000–£50,000 | Broad skills required; often more balanced hours |
| Contract catering (B&I, education, healthcare) | £30,000–£50,000 | Regular hours; less prestige; better work life balance |
| Casual dining chain | £28,000–£42,000 | Structured environment; volume cooking |
| Fast food / QSR | £22,000–£32,000 | Management ladder available; limited culinary scope |
| Staff canteen / workplace dining | £28,000–£40,000 | Best hours in the industry; Monday–Friday typical |
Chef salary figures look different when you account for actual hours worked. A head chef on £50,000 sounds well compensated until you calculate that many work 50–60 hours per week across split shifts.
| Role | Salary | Typical weekly hours | Effective hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commis Chef | £23,000 | 45–50 hrs | ~£9.20/hr |
| Chef de Partie | £30,000 | 48–55 hrs | ~£10.50/hr |
| Sous Chef | £38,000 | 50–60 hrs | ~£12.20/hr |
| Head Chef | £52,000 | 55–65 hrs | ~£15.30/hr |
These effective hourly rates are often below what workers in less physically demanding professions earn for standard 37.5-hour weeks. This is the economic reality that drives chef shortages, the pay per actual hour worked is frequently uncompetitive with warehouse, delivery, or retail management roles that offer more social hours.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant exodus from the hospitality industry. When kitchens reopened, the resulting shortage of experienced chefs, particularly at CDP and Sous Chef level, forced employers to offer substantially higher wages to attract and retain staff. Between 2020 and 2026, chef salaries across most levels increased by 25–40% in nominal terms, among the fastest growth of any sector in the UK economy.
This improvement has not fully resolved the structural problems of the profession, but it has meaningfully raised the floor. A commis chef today earns considerably more in real terms than their equivalent five years ago.
London pays a significant premium for chefs, reflecting both the higher cost of living and the concentration of fine dining establishments:
However, London's higher rents (£1,200–£1,800/month for a room) substantially erode the salary premium for most kitchen staff, particularly junior chefs who cannot command London level wages.
See where chef pay sits against other UK professions and regional averages.
Check Your Salary →Chef salaries range from £20,000–£25,000 for commis chefs to £40,000–£65,000 for head chefs at quality establishments. Executive chefs at hotels and multi site operations earn £55,000–£90,000. Private chefs can earn £60,000–£100,000+.
Head chef salaries typically range from £40,000 to £65,000, with significant variation by establishment type and location. Michelin-starred and 5-star hotel head chefs earn at the higher end; pub and casual dining head chefs at the lower end.
Chef pay has improved significantly since 2020, but the effective hourly rate, accounting for long hours, remains below many other professions. High level chefs at prestigious establishments earn well; junior chefs often do not relative to hours worked.
Typically 8–15 years from starting as a commis chef, depending on the establishment, your progression speed, and the opportunities available. Some exceptional chefs reach head chef positions in 6–8 years.
Contract catering (B&I, healthcare, education) offers the best hours in the industry, often Monday–Friday, 6am–3pm, with no late nights or weekends. Salaries are competitive and the lifestyle significantly better than restaurant work.