Chef demographics research summary. Zippia estimates chef demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our chef estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about chefs after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 147,434 chefs currently employed in the United States.
- 25.2% of all chefs are women, while 74.8% are men.
- The average chef age is 42 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of chefs is White (55.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (17.1%), Asian (11.4%) and Black or African American (10.3%).
- Chefs are most in-demand in New York, NY.
- Urban Honolulu, HI pays an annual average wage of $71,516, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women chefs earned 91% of what men earned.
- Nevada is the best state for chefs to live.
- Chefs are 71% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On This Page
Chef demographics by:
Chef gender statistics
25.2% of chefs are women and 74.8% of chefs are men.
- Male, 74.8%
- Female, 25.2%
Chef gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 74.8% |
| Female | 25.2% |
Chef gender pay gap
Women earn 91¢ for every $1 earned by men
![Chef Demographics and Statistics [2023]: Number Of Chefs In The US (1)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw== "Chef Demographics and Statistics [2023]: Number Of Chefs In The US (1)")
Male Income
$48,066
Female Income
$43,954
Chef gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in chef positions over time. Currently, 25.2% of chefs are female.
Male
Female
100
%
80
%
60
%
40
%
20
%
%
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Chef gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 77.85% | 22.15% |
| 2011 | 78.44% | 21.56% |
| 2012 | 78.58% | 21.42% |
| 2013 | 78.75% | 21.25% |
| 2014 | 76.68% | 23.32% |
| 2015 | 78.56% | 21.44% |
| 2016 | 76.91% | 23.09% |
| 2017 | 77.35% | 22.65% |
| 2018 | 76.09% | 23.91% |
| 2019 | 77.34% | 22.66% |
| 2020 | 75.39% | 24.61% |
| 2021 | 74.81% | 25.19% |
Chef related jobs gender ratio
We compared chefs with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, corporate executive chef and chef de cuisine have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Lunchroom Monitor | 5% | 95% |
| Waiter/Waitress, Captain | 13% | 87% |
| Lunchroom Supervisor | 13% | 87% |
| Chef | 75% | 25% |
| Executive Chef | 88% | 12% |
| Chef De Cuisine | 90% | 10% |
| Corporate Executive Chef | 91% | 9% |
Male
Female
Chef demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among chefs is White, which makes up 55.0% of all chefs. Comparatively, 17.1% of chefs are Hispanic or Latino and 11.4% of chefs are Asian.
- White, 55.0%
- Hispanic or Latino, 17.1%
- Asian, 11.4%
- Black or African American, 10.3%
- Unknown, 5.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
Chef Race
| Chef Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 55.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 17.1% |
| Asian | 11.4% |
| Black or African American | 10.3% |
| Unknown | 5.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.8% |
Chef race and ethnicity over time
See how chef racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Chef race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 61.19% | 11.82% | 8.65% | 15.27% |
| 2011 | 61.34% | 12.39% | 8.03% | 14.96% |
| 2012 | 61.35% | 11.22% | 8.08% | 15.66% |
| 2013 | 62.49% | 11.45% | 7.42% | 15.05% |
| 2014 | 61.13% | 11.05% | 8.50% | 15.71% |
| 2015 | 59.59% | 10.69% | 8.56% | 17.47% |
| 2016 | 61.10% | 10.69% | 8.18% | 16.05% |
| 2017 | 58.03% | 10.26% | 10.09% | 17.89% |
| 2018 | 59.64% | 10.56% | 7.89% | 18.50% |
| 2019 | 59.43% | 10.39% | 9.10% | 17.75% |
| 2020 | 56.26% | 9.66% | 9.45% | 18.48% |
| 2021 | 54.98% | 10.29% | 11.41% | 17.15% |
Chef wage gap by race
$51,000
$50,000
$49,000
$48,000
$47,000
$46,000
Unknown
White
Black or African American
Asian
Hispanic or Latino
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $47,726 |
| White | $49,560 |
| Black or African American | $48,570 |
| Asian | $46,548 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $47,977 |
Average chef age
See how the average age of chefs varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Chef age by race and gender
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 43 | 46.5 |
| Unknown | 38 | 36.5 |
| Asian | 44 | 49 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 40 | 43 |
| White | 40 | 41 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 40 |
Chef age breakdown
The average age of chefs is 40+ years years old, representing 56% of the chef population.
Chef age breakdown
| Chef Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 56% |
| 30-40 years | 28% |
| 20-30 years | 15% |
Chef educational attainment
The most common degree for chefs is associate degree, with 38% of chefs earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 27% and bachelor's degree degree at 21%.
- Associate, 38%
- Bachelor's, 27%
- High School Diploma, 21%
- Diploma, 8%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Chefs by degree level
| Chef Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Associate | 38% |
| Bachelor's | 27% |
| High School Diploma | 21% |
| Diploma | 8% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Chef Jobs You Might Like
Chef wage gap by degree level
$53,000
$51,000
$49,000
$47,000
$45,000
High School Diploma or Less
Bachelor's Degree
Some College/ Associate Degree
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $46,423 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $50,718 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $51,438 |
Chef employment statistics
Most chefs work for a private in the hospitality industry.
Company size where chefs work
Below, you can see the size of companies where chefs work.
< 50 employees
50 - 100 employees
100 - 500 employees
500 - 1,000 employees
1,000 - 10,000 employees
> 10,000
Chef jobs by employer size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 7% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 10% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 17% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 9% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 27% |
| > 10,000 employees | 30% |
Chef jobs by company type
Employees with the chef job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most chefs prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Education
Public
Private
Government
Chef jobs by sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 5% |
| Public | 22% |
| Private | 71% |
| Government | 2% |
Chef jobs by industry
The most common industries for chefs are hospitality, retail and manufacturing.
Chef industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Hospitality | 52% |
| Retail | 9% |
| Manufacturing | 6% |
| Health Care | 5% |
| Fortune 500 | 5% |
| Education | 4% |
| Professional | 4% |
| Media | 3% |
| Government | 2% |
| Start-up | 2% |
| Internet | 2% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
Chef turnover and employment statistics
Chef unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for chefs between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Unemployment rate
Chef unemployment rate by year
| Year | Chef Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 9.68% |
| 2011 | 10.91% |
| 2012 | 6.88% |
| 2013 | 7.77% |
| 2014 | 5.16% |
| 2015 | 5.14% |
| 2016 | 4.13% |
| 2017 | 3.91% |
| 2018 | 3.66% |
| 2019 | 3.42% |
| 2020 | 10.00% |
| 2021 | 11.33% |
Average chef tenure
The average chef stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 53,484 chefs resumes in Zippia's database.
Less than one year
1-2 years
3-4 years
5-7 years
8-10 years
11+ years
Chef tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 28% |
| 1-2 years | 36% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 13% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 6% |
Chef LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of chefs that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Catering Assistant | 6.78% | 10,042 |
| Head Waitress | 7.02% | 72,324 |
| Gallery Host | 7.29% | 9,545 |
| Counter Attendant | 7.36% | 53,208 |
| Bartender/Certified Trainer | 7.68% | 80,818 |
| Tea Room Manager | 8.43% | 62,358 |
| Chef | 8.58% | - |
Similar chef jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Catering Assistant | 6.78% | 10,042 |
| Head Waitress | 7.02% | 72,324 |
| Gallery Host | 7.29% | 9,545 |
| Counter Attendant | 7.36% | 53,208 |
| Bartender/Certified Trainer | 7.68% | 80,818 |
| Tea Room Manager | 8.43% | 62,358 |
Foreign languages spoken by chefs
The most common foreign language among chefs is Spanish at 48.5%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 14.9% and Italian is the third-most popular at 10.4%.
- Spanish, 48.5%
- French, 14.9%
- Italian, 10.4%
- German, 3.9%
- Japanese, 3.2%
- Other, 19.1%
Chef languages spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 48.5% |
| French | 14.9% |
| Italian | 10.4% |
| German | 3.9% |
| Japanese | 3.2% |
| Other | 19.1% |
Chef Jobs
Chef location demographics
The amount you can make as a chef can depend on where you live. For example, the highest salary of chefs is $54,691. Use our chart to find out where that salary is located.
Where do chefs earn the most?
Chefs earn the most in Hawaii, where the average chef salary is $71,544. The map here shows where chefs earn the highest salaries in the U.S. The darker areas across the 50 states highlight the highest salaries.
Average Salary
![Chef Demographics and Statistics [2023]: Number Of Chefs In The US (5)](https://i0.wp.com/media.zippia.com/salary-maps/2.4.8/chef.svgz "Chef Demographics and Statistics [2023]: Number Of Chefs In The US (5)")
Which city has the most Chefs?
By looking through more than 53,484 resumes, we found that the most popular places for chefs are New York, NY and Chicago, IL.
Number of Chefs
![Chef Demographics and Statistics [2023]: Number Of Chefs In The US (6)](https://i0.wp.com/media.zippia.com/demographics-maps/2.4.4/resume-chef.svgz "Chef Demographics and Statistics [2023]: Number Of Chefs In The US (6)")
Chef jobs by state
Where are chefs in high demand?
Chefs are in high demand in New York, NY. There are currently 36 job openings for chefs here. We looked over job openings to determine where in the country chefs are in the most demand.
Jobs Openings
![Chef Demographics and Statistics [2023]: Number Of Chefs In The US (7)](https://i0.wp.com/media.zippia.com/demographics-maps/2.4.4/listing-chef.svgz "Chef Demographics and Statistics [2023]: Number Of Chefs In The US (7)")
Chef Demographics FAQs
What percentage of Chefs are female?
26.9% of chefs are female in the United States. This is -1.4 percentage points lower than last year. Additionally, the percentage of female chefs has increased by 0.6 percentage points since 2010. That means there are a total of 39,035 female chefs in the U.S. and 106,080 male chefs in the United States. Note that Zippia's estimate accounts only for the 145,115 people with the specific job title of chef and doesn't include grouping similar job titles, or people with potentially similar credentialing.
How many Chef are there in the US?
There are over 147,434 Chefs in the United States.
What percentage of Chefs are black?
10.3% of Chefs are Black or African American
What race are most Chefs?
Most a are White, with 55.0% of Chefs belonging to this ethnicity. 17.1% of Chefs are Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% of Chefs are Asian, 10.3% of Chefs are Black or African American, 5.4% of Chefs are Unknown, and 0.8% of Chefs are American Indian and Alaska Native
Are Chef jobs male - dominated?
Yes, Chef jobs are male - dominated. 74% of Chefs are male, and 25% are female, so there are more male Chefs than female Chefs in the United States.
How old is the average Chef?
The average Chef is 42 years old. 56% of Chefs are 40+ years old or older, 28% are between the ages of 30-40 years, and 15% are between 20-30 years old
Have more questions?
See all answers to common food preparation and restaurant questions.Search for chef jobs
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Updated July 21, 2023
![Chef Demographics and Statistics [2023]: Number Of Chefs In The US (2024)](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mP8/h8AAvMB+NzmkbcAAAAASUVORK5CYII=)