Salary by Profession in the UK: Compare Jobs, Regions and Pay LevelsHow Much Do Chefs Earn in the UK? — 2026 Salary Guide
Complete guide to chef salaries in the UK for 2026. Commis to head chef pay, Michelin star earnings, hotel vs restaurant, London vs regional, pension, and career progression in professional kitchens.
Professional cooking is a demanding career with long hours, but passionate chefs can progress to well-paid positions. Here’s the complete breakdown of chef earnings across the UK.
For a broader comparison across occupations and pay bands, see our Salary by Profession hub.
Chef Salary by Brigade Position (2025/26)
Kitchen Brigade Hierarchy
| Position | Salary (National) | Salary (London) |
|---|
| Kitchen Porter | £20,000-£24,000 | £23,000-£28,000 |
| Commis Chef | £22,000-£26,000 | £25,000-£30,000 |
| Demi Chef de Partie | £24,000-£28,000 | £27,000-£32,000 |
| Chef de Partie | £26,000-£34,000 | £30,000-£40,000 |
| Senior Chef de Partie | £30,000-£38,000 | £34,000-£44,000 |
| Junior Sous Chef | £32,000-£40,000 | £36,000-£46,000 |
| Sous Chef | £35,000-£45,000 | £40,000-£55,000 |
| Senior Sous Chef | £40,000-£52,000 | £45,000-£60,000 |
| Head Chef | £42,000-£60,000 | £50,000-£75,000 |
| Executive Chef | £55,000-£85,000 | £65,000-£110,000 |
| Group Executive Chef | £70,000-£100,000 | £80,000-£130,000 |
Pay by Establishment Type
Fine Dining
| Position | Salary |
|---|
| Commis Chef | £24,000-£30,000 |
| Chef de Partie | £30,000-£40,000 |
| Sous Chef | £38,000-£50,000 |
| Head Chef | £50,000-£80,000 |
| Head Chef (Michelin-starred) | £55,000-£120,000 |
Hotels
| Hotel Type | Chef de Partie | Sous Chef | Head Chef |
|---|
| Budget hotel chain | £24,000-£28,000 | £30,000-£38,000 | £38,000-£48,000 |
| 3-4 star hotel | £26,000-£32,000 | £34,000-£44,000 | £42,000-£58,000 |
| 5 star city hotel | £30,000-£38,000 | £40,000-£52,000 | £55,000-£80,000 |
| Luxury country house | £28,000-£36,000 | £38,000-£48,000 | £50,000-£75,000 |
| 5 star London flagship | £34,000-£44,000 | £48,000-£62,000 | £70,000-£100,000 |
Restaurant Groups and Chains
| Type | CDP | Sous Chef | Head Chef |
|---|
| Fast casual chain | £24,000-£28,000 | £30,000-£36,000 | £35,000-£45,000 |
| Casual dining chain | £25,000-£30,000 | £32,000-£40,000 | £38,000-£50,000 |
| Premium casual | £28,000-£34,000 | £36,000-£46,000 | £45,000-£60,000 |
| High-end group (D&D, etc.) | £30,000-£38,000 | £40,000-£52,000 | £55,000-£75,000 |
Pubs and Gastro-Pubs
| Type | CDP | Sous/Second | Head Chef |
|---|
| Traditional pub | £23,000-£27,000 | £28,000-£34,000 | £32,000-£42,000 |
| Gastro-pub | £26,000-£32,000 | £32,000-£40,000 | £38,000-£52,000 |
| Premium gastro-pub | £28,000-£35,000 | £36,000-£45,000 | £45,000-£65,000 |
Contract Catering and Institutions
| Employer | CDP | Sous | Head Chef |
|---|
| School/hospital | £23,000-£27,000 | £28,000-£34,000 | £32,000-£42,000 |
| Corporate catering | £25,000-£30,000 | £32,000-£40,000 | £38,000-£50,000 |
| Premium corporate | £28,000-£34,000 | £36,000-£46,000 | £45,000-£60,000 |
| Private members’ club | £30,000-£38,000 | £40,000-£50,000 | £50,000-£75,000 |
Michelin Star Restaurant Pay
By Star Rating
| Level | CDP | Sous Chef | Head Chef |
|---|
| No stars (fine dining) | £28,000-£35,000 | £38,000-£48,000 | £48,000-£68,000 |
| One Michelin star | £30,000-£40,000 | £42,000-£55,000 | £55,000-£85,000 |
| Two Michelin stars | £34,000-£45,000 | £48,000-£65,000 | £70,000-£110,000 |
| Three Michelin stars | £38,000-£50,000 | £55,000-£75,000 | £90,000-£180,000+ |
Note: At top restaurants, lower-paid positions may accept lower wages for the CV benefit and training.
Private Chefs
| Client Type | Salary/Rate |
|---|
| Household private chef (part-time) | £40,000-£60,000 |
| Full-time private chef (UK) | £50,000-£80,000 |
| UHNW (Ultra-High-Net-Worth) | £80,000-£150,000+ |
| Yacht chef (superyacht) | £50,000-£100,000 + tips |
| Travel with family | £60,000-£120,000 + expenses |
| Day rate (events) | £250-£500/day |
Private chef roles often include accommodation and significant benefits.
Specialist Roles
| Specialism | Salary Range |
|---|
| Pastry Chef de Partie | £28,000-£36,000 |
| Senior Pastry Chef | £34,000-£45,000 |
| Head Pastry Chef | £42,000-£65,000 |
| Executive Pastry Chef | £55,000-£85,000 |
| Development Chef (R&D) | £40,000-£65,000 |
| Food Stylist | £30,000-£60,000 (freelance higher) |
| Cooking Demonstrator | £25,000-£50,000 |
| Consultant Chef | £400-£1,000/day |
Regional Pay Differences
| Region | CDP | Head Chef |
|---|
| Central London | £32,000-£42,000 | £55,000-£80,000 |
| Greater London | £28,000-£36,000 | £45,000-£65,000 |
| South East | £26,000-£32,000 | £40,000-£58,000 |
| South West (tourist areas) | £25,000-£31,000 | £38,000-£55,000 |
| Midlands | £24,000-£30,000 | £36,000-£50,000 |
| Manchester/Liverpool | £25,000-£32,000 | £38,000-£55,000 |
| Yorkshire | £24,000-£30,000 | £35,000-£50,000 |
| North East | £23,000-£28,000 | £32,000-£46,000 |
| Scotland | £24,000-£30,000 | £36,000-£52,000 |
| Wales | £23,000-£28,000 | £32,000-£48,000 |
Agency and Temporary Work
| Level | Day Rate | Hourly Rate |
|---|
| Commis Chef | £100-£140 | £12-£18 |
| Chef de Partie | £140-£180 | £16-£22 |
| Sous Chef | £180-£250 | £20-£30 |
| Head Chef | £220-£350 | £25-£40 |
| Relief Head Chef | £250-£400 | £28-£45 |
Agency rates are higher but without benefits, paid leave, or job security.
Working Conditions
Typical Hours
| Establishment | Weekly Hours |
|---|
| Hotels (split shifts) | 45-55 |
| Fine dining | 50-65+ |
| Casual restaurant | 45-55 |
| Pub kitchen | 45-50 |
| Contract catering | 40-45 |
| Private chef | 40-60 (variable) |
Common Benefits
| Benefit | Prevalence |
|---|
| Meals on duty | Standard |
| Uniform provided | Standard |
| Tips/service charge share | Common |
| Pension (auto-enrolment) | 3% minimum |
| Annual leave | 20-28 days |
| Training and development | Varies |
| Staff discounts | Common in groups |
Career Progression Timeline
| Stage | Experience | Role | Salary |
|---|
| Starting out | 0-1 years | Commis Chef | £22,000-£26,000 |
| Developing | 1-3 years | Demi CDP | £24,000-£28,000 |
| Competent | 2-4 years | Chef de Partie | £26,000-£34,000 |
| Experienced | 4-7 years | Senior CDP/Junior Sous | £32,000-£42,000 |
| Leadership | 6-10 years | Sous Chef | £38,000-£50,000 |
| Senior leadership | 8-15 years | Head Chef | £45,000-£70,000 |
| Executive | 12-20 years | Executive Chef | £60,000-£100,000 |
| Director level | 15+ years | Group/Culinary Director | £80,000-£150,000+ |
Training and Qualifications
Entry Routes
| Route | Details |
|---|
| College (NVQ/diploma) | 1-3 years full-time |
| Apprenticeship | Learn and earn (Level 2-3) |
| Culinary school (Le Cordon Bleu, Westminster Kingsway) | Premium training |
| Starting as KP | Work up through the ranks |
| Career change | Fast-track courses available |
Useful Qualifications
| Qualification | Level | Value |
|---|
| NVQ Level 2 Food Prep | Entry | Basic competence |
| NVQ Level 3 Professional Cookery | Intermediate | Industry standard |
| City & Guilds 706/1, 706/2 | Traditional | Historic respect |
| Higher culinary diploma | Advanced | Leadership roles |
| Food hygiene (Level 2/3/4) | Essential | Legal requirement |
Summit to Success
Some chefs build significant wealth through additional revenue streams:
| Revenue Stream | Potential |
|---|
| Cookbooks | £10,000-£500,000+ |
| TV appearances | £5,000-£50,000/episode |
| Brand endorsements | £50,000-£500,000/year |
| Restaurant ownership | Highly variable |
| Consulting | £500-£2,000/day |
| Online courses/content | Variable |
The top celebrity chefs (Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver, etc.) have built multi-million pound empires.
Summary
| Position | Salary (National) | Salary (London) |
|---|
| Commis Chef | £22,000-£26,000 | £25,000-£30,000 |
| Chef de Partie | £26,000-£34,000 | £30,000-£40,000 |
| Sous Chef | £35,000-£45,000 | £40,000-£55,000 |
| Head Chef | £42,000-£60,000 | £50,000-£75,000 |
| Executive Chef | £55,000-£85,000 | £65,000-£110,000 |
| Michelin-star Head Chef | £55,000-£120,000 | £70,000-£180,000+ |
| Private Chef | £50,000-£150,000 | — |