Careers: Chef or head cook

By U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, adapted by Newsela staff on 07.11.17

Word Count 487
Level 590L

Marcus Samuelsson, head chef at Red Rooster and Aquavit in New York, teaches during “Wishes Across America” on
Macy's National Believe Day, with Make-A-Wish child Sara, 17, in Chicago, Illinois, December 6, 2013. Photo by: Jose More
for AP Images

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Chefs and head cooks are in charge of food preparation. They are also in charge of other
workers in the kitchen. They plan menus, too.

Chefs and head cooks usually work at restaurants, other places to eat or people's homes.

Duties

The jobs of chefs and head cooks include:

• Checking that food is fresh.

• Hiring and managing other food workers.

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• Creating recipes.

• Presenting food.

• Making sure kitchens and food are safe and clean.

• Ordering food and supplies.

Chefs who run their own restaurant or catering business are often busy with both kitchen and
office work.

Here are examples of types of chefs:

Executive chefs, head cooks and chefs de cuisine oversee the kitchen. They are in
charge of the other cooks. They also plan menus. They decide what food to buy and cook.

Sous chefs are second in charge. The sous chefs run the kitchen if the head chef is not there.

Private chefs usually work for one client or family.

Work Environment And Schedules

About 127,500 people were working as chefs or head cooks in the United States in 2014.
Most worked at restaurants.

Working in a kitchen is not easy. Kitchens are crowded. There are also dangers, like hot ovens
or slippery floors. This means chefs and cooks are hurt more than workers in some other jobs.

Chefs and head cooks usually work on their feet. This can be tiring.

Most chefs and head cooks work 40 hours a week. Some work even more. Many work early
mornings, at night, on weekends and holidays.

How To Become A Chef Or Head Cook

Most chefs and head cooks learn on the job.

Education after high school is not always needed. Many chefs take cooking classes.

Students in these programs spend most of their time cooking. They learn about menu
planning. They also learn about handling food in a clean and safe way.

Most chefs and head cooks learn from other chefs.

Many work for years before they become a chef or head cook.

Important Qualities

Business skills: Chefs need skills to help the restaurant make money.

People skills: Chefs must work well with others. This helps to make sure orders are correct.

Creativity: Chefs need to make interesting meals.

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Time management: Chefs must be sure that meals are served on time.

Pay

Many chefs and head cooks

make about $43,180 a year. That is an average. Some make less money. Some make more
money.

The pay is usually highest in fancy restaurants and hotels.

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Job Outlook

More people are being

born in the world. People will want to eat out. So, more dining places will open. More chefs and
head cooks will be needed.

Jobs for chefs are expected to grow faster than many other kinds of jobs.

Chefs with business skills, experience and creativity will have the most job choices.

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Quiz

1 Read the paragraph from the section "Work Environment And Schedules."

Working in a kitchen is not easy. Kitchens are crowded. There are also
dangers, like hot ovens or slippery floors. This means chefs and cooks
are hurt more than workers in some other jobs.

Which question is answered in this paragraph?

(A) How can you become a chef?

(B) What is it like to work in a kitchen?

(C) How can you stay safe in a kitchen?

(D) What is a head cook?

2 Read the section "How To Become A Chef Or Head Cook."

Which sentence from the section explains that it can take a long time to become a chef or head
cook?

(A) Many chefs take cooking classes.

(B) They learn about menu planning.

(C) Most chefs and head cooks learn from other chefs.

(D) Many work for years before they become a chef or head cook.

3 Look at the chart in the section "Pay."

Based on the chart, how much money do chefs and head cooks make in a year?

(A) $2,016

(B) $43,180

(C) $37,040

(D) $32,790

4 Look at the image at the top of the article and its caption.

What does this image show?

(A) a chef teaching someone how to cook

(B) two chefs arguing about what to cook

(C) a chef ordering food for a recipe

(D) two chefs working on a new recipe

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 6

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 7
Answer Key

1 Read the paragraph from the section "Work Environment And Schedules."

Working in a kitchen is not easy. Kitchens are crowded. There are also
dangers, like hot ovens or slippery floors. This means chefs and cooks
are hurt more than workers in some other jobs.

Which question is answered in this paragraph?

(A) How can you become a chef?

(B) What is it like to work in a kitchen?

(C) How can you stay safe in a kitchen?

(D) What is a head cook?

2 Read the section "How To Become A Chef Or Head Cook."

Which sentence from the section explains that it can take a long time to become a chef or head
cook?

(A) Many chefs take cooking classes.

(B) They learn about menu planning.

(C) Most chefs and head cooks learn from other chefs.

(D) Many work for years before they become a chef or head cook.

3 Look at the chart in the section "Pay."

Based on the chart, how much money do chefs and head cooks make in a year?

(A) $2,016

(B) $43,180

(C) $37,040

(D) $32,790

4 Look at the image at the top of the article and its caption.

What does this image show?

(A) a chef teaching someone how to cook

(B) two chefs arguing about what to cook

(C) a chef ordering food for a recipe

(D) two chefs working on a new recipe

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 8

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 9