Executive Chef
Lead a kitchen brigade, design menus and control food costs.
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- Typical pay
- €32k–€70k
- Usual education
- Culinary school or apprenticeship
- Outlook
- Strong demand; skilled chefs are scarce.
A day in the life
Ordering produce, prepping service, running the pass at peak, training commis chefs, costing new dishes.
Ways in
- Culinary school
- Kitchen apprenticeship
- Working up from commis chef
What to study at 16
The subjects you choose for the final years of secondary school can shape which degrees, exams and careers are easiest to reach. This is about choosing courses, not choosing a school.
Austria
HLW – Business and services college
A common destination for students on this track.
Belgium
BSO – Vocational secondary
A common destination for students on this track.
Spain
Bachillerato de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales
France
Bac professionnel
Poland
Technikum
Sweden
Yrkesprogram
Skills that matter
Best courses to take
The study routes that lead most directly into this career.
Culinary Arts Diploma
Hands-on kitchen training in technique, hygiene and menu costing.
Technique first; management skills come later.
Helpful school subjects: Cookery, Food safety, Costing, Patisserie
Cooking and Gastronomy (Grado Medio)
Professional kitchen technique, food safety and service under real restaurant conditions.
Where almost every Spanish chef starts.
Helpful school subjects: Kitchen technique, Food safety, Menu costing
Kitchen Management (Grado Superior)
Higher ciclo for chefs who want to run a kitchen: costing, teams, suppliers and menu design.
The higher ciclo for running a kitchen, not just cooking in one.
Helpful school subjects: Kitchen management, Costing, Team leadership
CAP Cuisine
France's foundation cooking qualification, usually taken as a paid apprenticeship in a restaurant.
French apprenticeship route inside a working restaurant.
Helpful school subjects: Kitchen technique, Food safety, Service
Places that hire for this
Accor
Recruits for this role through internships, apprenticeships and graduate entry routes.
Booking.com
Recruits for this role through internships, apprenticeships and graduate entry routes.
eDreams ODIGEO
Recruits for this role through internships, apprenticeships and graduate entry routes.
Iberia
Recruits for this role through internships, apprenticeships and graduate entry routes.
Grupo Ibersol
Common first job; shift supervisor within a year or two is realistic.
Grupo José Avillez
Kitchen stages and commis roles in Michelin-level brigades.
Lufthansa Group
Recruits for this role through internships, apprenticeships and graduate entry routes.
Marriott International
Recruits for this role through internships, apprenticeships and graduate entry routes.
Meliá Hotels International
Recruits for this role through internships, apprenticeships and graduate entry routes.
MSC Cruises
Recruits for this role through internships, apprenticeships and graduate entry routes.