Seafood Chef Salary Information
If you enjoy pleasing others and have a flair for turning out delicious meals, the career field of a seafood chef may be worth looking into. Chefs make a good living, according to a July 2010 report by PayScale. These professionals often earn more than $40,000 annually just starting out in their careers.
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Job Description
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Chefs are culinary experts and artists who produce a variety of delectable dishes for diners. Some chefs may specialize in certain foods such as seafood. According to Allculinaryschools.com, chefs must have a good palate for taste, as they are often creating new dishes, sauces and flavor combinations to impress diners. The job of a seafood chef can be hard, stressful and often physically demanding, with long hours of standing involved. But the rewards for these professionals are high when they receive accolades and appreciation from their customers and friends.
Pay by Geography
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The salary for a seafood chef could depend on where in the U.S. he works. According to a July 2010 survey of 3,421 workers by PayScale, the top seafood chef salaries are in New York, where professionals are reporting earnings of up to $91,270 a year. Seafood chefs working in San Francisco are also earning good incomes, ranging between $51,395 and $83,624 a year. Using your culinary skills in Los Angeles could pay the least, with those workers reporting top incomes of $73,754 annually.
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Longevity Pay
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Level of experience can play a part in annual income. According to PayScale, those chefs just starting out can expect to earn between $23,583 and $41,290 a year. After five years on the job, chefs are reporting earning at least $38,579 a year on the lower end and up to $58,172 a year at the top. Seafood chefs with at least a decade of job experience behind them reported earnings of up to $64,419 a year.
Men Outearning Women
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In the field of culinary chef positions, men are coming out ahead when it comes to earnings. According to a July 2010 survey of 2,327 chefs, women reported earning at least $38,057 a year and up to $59,840. Men, however, reported slightly higher salaries, earning at least $43,057 a year to start and topping out at $65,582 each year--a difference of up to $5,742 each year between the sexes.
Industry
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There are several different industries in which to work as a seafood chef, and this could play a role in your earnings potential. According to PayScale, working in a larger hotel could be the best bet at higher earnings. Those workers are reporting earning between $48,983 and $78,852 annually. Being employed in the catering industry could pay less, with those workers reporting earnings topping out at $65,818 a year. Seafood chefs working in stand alone restaurants reported salaries of up to $63,838.
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References
- Photo Credit salmon fillet image by Elke Dennis from Fotolia.com