It is common to find young people passionate about the world of cooking who ask themselves “How much does a chef get paid?”, curious about the salary a chef can earn.
In 2024, chef salaries in Italy vary greatly based on the specific role, experience and type of restaurant or hotel they work in: for this reason, the salary it goes from around 1,500 euros to 2,400 euros gross per month.
Normal full-time working hours are 40 ore weekly and, in accordance with the provisions of the national collective labor agreement in the Public Services, Catering and Tourism sector, the basic pay has recorded notable increases starting with the June 2024 paycheck.
For many young people, starting a career in the restaurant business is a big dream and for this reason the aspiration is to become a chef one day.
Summary
What does a chef’s salary depend on?
What does a chef’s salary depend on?
A chef’s salary is influenced by a combination of factors related to his or her specific position, experience, and the type and location of the restaurant or hotel.
Sometimes the profession of chef can turn out to be a seasonal job and this can affect the salary.
The position within the kitchen brigade significantly affects the salary. For example, a chef de partie will earn less than a head chef or an executive chef, who have more responsibilities.
Likewise, a chef with years of experience and a proven ability to manage a kitchen can negotiate higher salaries than someone just starting out in their career.
At the same time, however, it is also important to keep in mind that the size of the kitchen brigade and the specific responsibilities assigned can influence the salary.
Chefs who manage large teams or are responsible for multiple restaurants within a hotel group may receive higher compensation.
How many types of chefs are there?
A successful kitchen brigade is a work environment within which there are precise hierarchies. Each person carries out their task meticulously, thus creating an alchemy that will contribute to the success of the dishes.
This organizational structure allows for efficient management and optimal distribution of tasks, while ensuring the quality and consistency of the dishes served to customers.
Lo Executive Chefi.e. the main manager of the kitchen. He is responsible for the overall management, the creation of menus, the supervision of the staff and the guarantee of compliance with quality and hygiene standards.
Sous chefor rather the direct assistant to the executive chef. Manages the daily operations of the kitchen, coordinates the work of the other chefs and intervenes in the absence of the executive chef. May also be responsible for specific sections of the kitchen (Talent.com).
Lo party leader who is responsible for a specific area of the kitchen. The main sections include:
Saucier (sauce chef): i.e. the person responsible for preparing sauces and meat dishes.
Il fishmonger (fish chef), Specializing in the preparation of fish and seafood dishes.
Pantry (chef of cold batches) who takes care of the preparation of cold dishes, salads and appetizers.
Il pastry chefexpert in preparing sweets, desserts and baked goods.
As well as the rotisseur (or roaster) who specializes in cooking roasts and grills.
Entremetier (intermezzi chef), on the other hand, takes care of the preparation of soups, vegetables and egg-based dishes.
Finally, the commis or assistant cook, which is the starting level of the kitchen brigade. Assists the match chefs in various preparations and learns cooking techniques.
How much salary does a chef earn?
Now let’s see how much the chef earns.
In Italy, a chef’s salary varies considerably depending on the role, experience, type of restaurant or hotel, and geographic location. Here is an overview of average salaries for different levels of chefs.
Based on the provisions of the CCNL Catering 2024-2027, a chef earns approximately between 1,500 and 2,400 euros gross per month, that is, approximately between 1,200 and 2,100 euros net in your pocket.
What is certain is that a starred chef or one who works in particularly renowned hotels can also achieve higher earnings, sometimes even reaching peaks of 4,000 euros gross per month.
