Growth Trends for Related Jobs
About Canadian Chef Salaries
Chefs are responsible for planning and preparing meals, as well as supervising other people working in the kitchen. Chefs are usually considered employees and work for restaurants, hotels, hospitals, clubs and resorts. According to Service Canada, the salaries of chefs are comparable to other jobs in the service industry but are lower than the average national salary for skilled trade workers. Job title, responsibilities and experience all determine a chef's salary.
Average Salary
The average annual salary for a chef in Canada ranges from $30,000 to $62,000. According to Service Canada, the chef’s average hourly wage ($13.71) is below the Canadian average ($18.07). In 2004, 89 percent of chefs worked full-time.
Types of Chefs
The greatest determination of a chef’s salary is the job title. Experience, education and talent influence a chef’s rank in the kitchen and his corresponding responsibilities. According to PayScale, a sous-chef can expect to earn between $31,681 and $43,970, while an executive chef’s annual salary ranges from $42,841 to $62,937. Earning recognition as a "Red Seal" chef or other certifications can increase a chef’s salary.
Benefits
Tips, bonuses, benefits and profit sharing can increase a chef’s income. PayScale Canada estimated these benefits for a head chef could increase a chef’s income by $1,000 to $15,000 per year. According to the same study, the most common health benefits for chefs are medical (43 percent) and dental (32 percent) insurance coverage. However, more than half (56 percent) of chefs receive no health benefits from their employers.
Considerations
The type of establishment affects the salary of a chef. According to Service Canada, most chefs (84 percent) work for restaurants and in kitchens in accommodations. Their salary reflects the national average. Chefs who work for casinos, golf courses and other tourist resorts often have higher salaries.
Geography
Where a chef works also affects her earnings. For example, the average hourly wage of a chef in Alberta is $22.09, which is above the national average. Working in rural, urban or resort areas will also affect a chef’s salary.
Potential
According to Service Canada, the salary and job growth for chefs will remain stable and reflect the Canadian average in wage growth. Retirement rates will not affect this industry as much because the retirement rate is below the Canadian average. Service Canada identified learning computer skills as a way to become more competitive in the job market. Computers can be used for online marketing, inventory management and online recipe retrieval.
References
Writer
Jessica Grosman has written about history, culture, new media, health and relationships for several teen and women's publications. She is also a producer for a monthly radio show about art, culture and politics. Grosman is invested in community building and often facilitates workshops and speaks at conferences.
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