Chef Salaries Dropped In 2008
Filed under: Dining
Celebrity chefs may make a fortune but chefs across the country make more modest salaries and those salaries got a little smaller in 2008. StarChefs.com, the online magazine for culinary insiders, recently conducted its fourth annual Salary Survey and found that after four years of increases culinary industry salaries dropped. Executive chef salaries went from $77,611 to $74,869, a drop of 3.5 percent. Chef/owners saw an even bigger decline, a change of 9.7 percent, from $94,288 to $85,179. But even they aren't suffering as much as the pastry chefs. The masters of sugar and chocolate saw their salaries slide nearly 13 percent from an average of $53,017 to $46,228 below the US median household income of $50,740.
If you want to make money as a chef, aside from getting your own television show or book deal, the money is in being an executive chef at a country club or a hotel where salaries are significantly higher. A hotel executive chef makes an average of $84,443, a country club chef makes $81,328 but an executive chef at an independent fine dining restaurant brings in an average of $74,620. Chefs in big cities make the most but surprisingly Miami has the highest reported average salary for executive chefs at $90,333. You can read the full report at the Starchefs website.
Given the current state of the economy and the fact that many are looking to take dining out off their lists of expenses, 2009 isn't likely to bring an uptick in these numbers.
Killed Soldier In London Attack Identified
Live from Microsoft's New Generation Xbox event!
Brave Woman Stood Down Armed London Attackers
Xbox Reveal liveblog on Joystiq
The List #0147: Escape a Car Underwater
Surgeon's Remove Giant Hairball From Tiger
Xbox One architecture panel liveblog!
H&M's Plus-Size Model Jennie Runk Says She Chose To Gain Weight
LOOK: Bank Vault Saves 22 Lives During Tornado
Okla. Sheriff's Deputy Finds Dog Guarding Body Buried Under Destroyed Home
Demi Looks FANTASTIC In A Bikini
Okla. School Survivor: Teacher 'Saved Our Lives'
Dozens Killed in Oklahoma Tornado; Death Toll to Rise
PHOTO: Dog Guards Dead Victim's Body After Oklahoma Tornado Disaster
Reptiles Make Home in UK Man's Cable Box
Helen Flanagan Launches PETA Campaign As Only She Knows How
Jodi Arias Jury DEADLOCKED
New Trayvon Martin Evidence Features Incriminating Photos, Texts From Teen
LOOK: Photoshop Mistake Is Seriously Cringeworthy
Teenager's 'Awww'-Inspiring Drawing Wins Big At Google
Singer Sues McDonald's, Claims Chicken Sandwich Incident Ruined Her Voice
What It's Like To Talk To A 2-Year-Old
Mum-Of-Two Faces Down Woolwich Attack Suspects
'DWTS' Shakeup Ahead?
Pope Francis Says All Who Do Good Are Redeemed - Atheists Included
WATCH: Heckler Hijacks Obama Speech On Drones, Gitmo
REVEALED: Disturbing Trend In Human Intelligence
Has Katie Holmes Moved On?
Man Reportedly Beheaded In Brutal Assault In London Neighborhood
PHOTOS: Tornado Aftermath Leaves Trail Of Destruction
White Father Allegedly Suspected Of Kidnapping Biracial Daughters