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Chefs and Head Cooks

Food Preparation and Serving Related (35-1011)
Bright Outlook

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.

At a Glance

Chefs and Head Cooks earns a median of $60,990/yr with +7.1% projected growth. Typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent. Top skills: Google Sheets, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Excel.

Median Annual Wage

$60,990/yr

Projected Growth (2024-34)

+7.1%

Annual Openings

24

Typical Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Skills & Requirements

Skills (17)

Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

4.1
Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

4.0
Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

3.9
Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

3.9
Time Management

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

3.9
Management of Personnel Resources

Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

3.9
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

3.8
Service Orientation

Actively looking for ways to help people.

3.8
Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

3.6
Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

3.6
Instructing

Teaching others how to do something.

3.6
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

3.5
Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

3.4
Management of Material Resources

Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.

3.3
Quality Control Analysis

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

3.3
Complex Problem Solving

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

3.3
Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

3.3

Knowledge (8)

Food Production

Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.

4.1
Production and Processing

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

4.0
Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

3.9
Administration and Management

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

3.7
Personnel and Human Resources

Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

3.7
Mathematics

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

3.5
Education and Training

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

3.5
English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

3.3

Abilities (16)

Problem Sensitivity

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

4.1
Oral Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

4.1
Information Ordering

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

4.0
Oral Comprehension

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

4.0
Speech Clarity

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

3.9
Deductive Reasoning

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

3.9
Near Vision

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

3.8
Inductive Reasoning

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

3.8
Speech Recognition

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

3.8
Written Comprehension

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

3.5
Originality

The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

3.4
Selective Attention

The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

3.4
Visualization

The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

3.3
Category Flexibility

The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

3.3
Fluency of Ideas

The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

3.3
Time Sharing

The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).

3.3

Technology (7)

Google Sheets

Category: Spreadsheet software | Hot Technology

4.5
Microsoft Office software

Category: Office suite software | Hot Technology | In Demand

4.5
Microsoft Excel

Category: Spreadsheet software | Hot Technology | In Demand

4.5
Facebook

Category: Web page creation and editing software | Hot Technology

4.5
Microsoft PowerPoint

Category: Presentation software | Hot Technology | In Demand

4.5
Microsoft Word

Category: Word processing software | Hot Technology

4.5
Microsoft Outlook

Category: Electronic mail software | Hot Technology | In Demand

4.5

Work Activities (24)

Training and Teaching Others

Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

4.1
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others

Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

4.1
Developing and Building Teams

Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

4.0
Coaching and Developing Others

Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

3.9
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates

Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

3.9
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

3.9
Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

3.9
Getting Information

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

3.9
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships

Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

3.8
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

3.8
Scheduling Work and Activities

Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

3.8
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

3.7
Thinking Creatively

Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

3.7
Performing General Physical Activities

Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

3.7
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others

Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

3.7
Monitoring and Controlling Resources

Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

3.7
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings

Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

3.6
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards

Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

3.5
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

3.4
Handling and Moving Objects

Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

3.4
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public

Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

3.4
Staffing Organizational Units

Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.

3.4
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

3.3
Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People

Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

3.3

Careers with Overlapping Skills

These occupations share the most skills. A career transition between them means many of your skills transfer directly.

Explore Key Skills

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