RUReadyND - Career Profile

Chef

AVG. SALARY

$68,520

EDUCATION

High school (GED) +

JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

What They Do

About This Career

Directs and may participate in the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. May plan and price menu items, order supplies, and keep records and accounts.

This career is part of the Hospitality, Events, & Tourism cluster Entrepreneurship & Small Business pathway, Culinary & Food Services pathway.

A person in this career:

Monitors sanitation practices to ensure that employees follow standards and regulations.
Instructs cooks or other workers in the preparation, cooking, garnishing, or presentation of food.
Supervises or coordinates activities of cooks or workers engaged in food preparation.
Analyzes recipes to assign prices to menu items, based on food, labor, and overhead costs.
Determines how food should be presented and creates decorative food displays.
Checks the quantity and quality of received products.
Checks the quality of raw or cooked food products to ensure that standards are met.
Determines production schedules and staff requirements necessary to ensure timely delivery of services.
Coordinates planning, budgeting, or purchasing for all the food operations within establishments such as clubs, hotels, or restaurant chains.
Analyzes recipes to assign prices to menu items, based on food, labor, and overhead costs.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
Conditions are very hot (above 90 F) or very cold (under 32 F)
Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
Exposed to hazardous equipment such as saws, machinery, or vehicular traffic more than once a month
Exposed to hazardous situations involving possible injury such as cuts, bites, stings, and minor burns more than once a month
Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching
Seeing clearly at a distance
Seeing clearly up close
Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

Irregular hours
Weekend work

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

Banquet Chef
Executive Pastry Chef
Sous Chef
Cook
Food and Beverage Director
Executive Chef (Ex Chef)
Executive Sous Chef
Head Cook
Kitchen Manager