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Chef Hierarchy: Types, Skills Required, Job Profiles, Scope 2023

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Ahana Bhaduri

Senior Content Specialist

Hospitality industry is counted amongst the top most evolving industries which employs more than thousands of people and is expected to hire more manpower in the coming years. Most people opt to eat out with their family and friends, the regular demand for new tastes, new recipes, and culinary art is booming like never before. In order to work in a hotel or a restaurant, one of the most essential skill that needs to be mastered is patience and experience, apart from the various educational degrees that are required for this profession.

In order to become a Chef, aspiring candidates can pursue various Certificate, Diploma and Undergraduate Cooking Courses or Hotel Management Courses from any of the Top Hotel Management Colleges across the country. Admissions to these colleges are done on the basis of Hotel Management Entrance Exams such as NCHMCT, IIHM eCHAT etc. Read More: Chef Requirements

The average salary received post completing relevant degrees in becoming a Chef ranges from INR 3.5 LPA – 4 LPA. However with gradual experience, exposure and knowledge the highest salary of a Senior and experienced Chef can go up to as much as INR 16.8 LPACheck: Salary of a Chef

Chef Hierarchy

Chef Hierarchy also known as Kitchen Hierarchy implies to the various bifurcations that are made to identify the various positions and their list of duties and functions. The hierarchy in a Chef’s profession usually begins with a Junior Chef and goes up to an Executive Chef. The sections below will discuss the various hierarchical stratifications for your reference. Read More: Bachelor in Hotel Management

Executive Chef

  • This title is normally applied and appointed in the big hotels and restaurants where they have large chains of their brand in the national or international markets. The executive chef’s primary duty is to manage the kitchen staff of all the chain restaurants, not for cooking food. 
  • In his duty, he oversaw and trained the personnel, preparing a new menu, budgeting, and purchasing of kitchen needs. Here you have understood that for the position of executive chef you have prior experience in cooking as well as good management that helps you to run the kitchen smoothly.

Head Chef

  • Every restaurant has a head chef who controls all the aspects of the kitchen and is responsible for managing the kitchen and their staff, budgeting, and creating menus. If there is no executive chef then the head chef is at the top of the kitchen hierarchy.
  • Head chefs have been involved in the day-to-day kitchen activities but in many cases, the head chefs leave the cooking for the sous chef and others.

Deputy Chef

  • Deputy chef also known as the sous chef overlaps with the head chef but has a crucial role in the kitchen. The Sous Chef is in charge of the kitchen who cooks food and oversees day-to-day activities.
  • He has a second position in commanding the kitchen but it’s not necessary that in a kitchen there is only one sous chef appointed; it all depends on the size and staff of the kitchen.

Station Chef

  • The station chef has a crucial role in the kitchen. There are two or more station chefs working in the kitchen and have different stations such as the station for salad, vegetables, starters, fish, meat, barbeque, etc. have a different station in the kitchen and for management, all these food categories have a separate station chef.
  • These chefs cook the food that is served to the customers. To serve the best dish, each station chef is responsible for each station of the food category.

Scope of Chef Hierarchy in India

A Chef or Kitchen Hierarchy has a good scope in India, where there is availability of a variety of foods. Check the top job profiles and their top recruiters in the sections below.

Top Job Profiles

The top Chef Hierarchy job profiles are - 

Job Profiles Average Annual Salary
Executive Chef INR 10.21 L
Head Chef INR 6.90 L
Deputy Chef INR 4.81 L
Station Chef INR 3.93 L

Chef Hierarchy: FAQs

Ques. What is the hierarchy of chefs?

Ans. The Hierarchy of Chefs remains under the Head chefs, and equivalent to executive chefs. Hierarchy chefs are responsible for controlling every aspect of a kitchen.

Ques. What is the career path of a chef?

Ans. Chefs have a good career path, and can work in multiple job positions. This includes prep cook, fish chef, Sous chef, pastry chef, line chef, etc.

Ques. What is the highest chef rank?

Ans. The highest ranking chef is executive chef. They are often regarded as master or head chef, who is the overall kitchen boss.

Ques. What is the lowest level of chef?

Ans. A demi chef is considered as the lowest level of a chef. He is often considered as an assistant chef, who mostly works and supervises the preparation of food.

Ques. Who is under the head chef?

Ans. Sous Chef comes under the head chef. A Sous Chef is in the second position in commanding a kitchen.

Ques. What skills should a chef have?

Ans. Some of the skills that the Chefs must have are -

  • Attention to Detail
  • Creativity
  • Cleanliness
  • Business Sense
  • Culinary Expertise
  • Motivational Management Style
  • Fast-Paced Decision Making

Ques. Is being a chef a stressful job?

Ans. The work of a chef is a bit stressful. They have to work for long hours, and spend time in front of the fire, with little amount of breaks in between.

Ques. What is a lady chef called?

Ans. The designation of a chef is universal. There is no change in name for chefs based on their genders.

Ask your question

Answered Questions

SD

Samrat Dasgupta

02 Feb 22

You should note that the placement packages offered at IHM Pusa have little to do with its reputation. 

IMH Pusa Placements:

  • Students get placed as management trainees for brands like Taj, ITC, Hilton, etc. The average salary package offered for this position is INR 18,000 - INR 22,000.
  • Other than Hotels, retail sectors also recruit from the campus with cushy packages. 

Here’s a brief highlight of the recent placements at IMH Pusa.

Highest CTC INR 50,000
Average CTC INR 30,000
Major recruiters  Cafe Coffee Day, Godrej Nature’s Basket, Reliance Retail Ltd. 
...Show More

MP

Malini Pathak

03 Oct 20

The NMIMS School of Hospitality Management (SOHM) offers an innovative program wherein the students are prepared to find solutions to the changing times in the Hospitality industry caused by technology, creativity and socio cultural changes. The school is focused on creating leaders of tomorrow, who can be innovative and at the same time disruptive by using technology and skills.

USPs of School

  • International Internship and Placement Opportunities
  • Multiple Career Choices across service Industry
  • Futuristic Curriculum and Experiential Learning
  • Pathway to World Class NMIMS MBA
  • State-of-Art Infrastructure
  • Strong Industry Representation
...Show More

RS

Ritika Sinha

12 Jul 22

The required eligibility for Bachelor of Hotel Management at Amity University is 10+2. You should have passed all the subjects from a recognized board. So, you are eligible to apply for admission. The final selection is done based on the video responses to the questions posted through the link available on the admission microsite of the institute.

...Show More

DM

Devdeep Mukharjee

02 May 22

Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, BVDU offers B.Sc H&HA (Hospitality and Hotel Administration). It is a 3-year-long course and has 180 student intake. 

Bharati Vidyapeeth takes admission for B.Sc H&HA through an entrance examination, i.e. BVP CET. The eligibility criteria for admission is at least 40% in 10+2 from a recognized board. 

...Show More

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