Chefs and Head Cooks
Hospitality & Tourism · Restaurants and Food/Beverage Services
Pay and outlook shown for
New workers start near $21,430; experienced workers reach $95,260. About 1,260 people do this job in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX.
Job outlook
Alamo region (San Antonio and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034; U.S. figures from the BLS.
- Employment change
- +17.8%
- Openings a year
- 291
- Employed in 2024
- 2,076
Typical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent · Experience: 5 years or more
Alamo Colleges programs that lead here
2 programs, with the college that teaches each.
Skills this career uses
The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.
- Coordination4.0
- Monitoring4.1
- Speaking3.9
- Time Management3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Active Listening3.6
- Social Perceptiveness3.8
- Management of Personnel Resources3.8
What the work is
Direct 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.
- Check the quality of raw or cooked food products to ensure that standards are met.
- Monitor sanitation practices to ensure that employees follow standards and regulations.
- Check the quantity and quality of received products.
- Order or requisition food or other supplies needed to ensure efficient operation.
- Supervise or coordinate activities of cooks or workers engaged in food preparation.
- Inspect supplies, equipment, or work areas to ensure conformance to established standards.
Education people in this job have
Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.
- High school or less14%
- Certificate17%
- Some college3%
- Associate degree52%
- Bachelor's degree14%
Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.
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