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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Chefs and Head Cooks

Part of Hospitality & Tourism, in the Restaurants and Food/Beverage Services pathway.

Bright outlookJob zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 35-1011.00

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.

On a typical day

  • 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.

What it pays

$48,900
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $21,430
Experienced workers reach $95,260
  1. $21k10th
  2. $38k25th
  3. $49kMedian
  4. $66k75th
  5. $95k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $21,430, 25th $37,640, Median $48,900, 75th $66,000, 90th $95,260

About 1,260 people do this job in the San Antonio area.

Job outlook

Alamo region (Bexar and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034. U.S. figures from the BLS for comparison.

+17.8%

employment change in the Alamo region, 2,076 to 2,446 jobs · U.S. +7%

291

openings a year in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 24,400

2,076

employed in the Alamo region in 2024 · U.S. 197,300

Typical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent · Experience: 5 years or more

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.

  1. Coordination4.0
  2. Monitoring4.1
  3. Speaking3.9
  4. Time Management3.9
  5. Critical Thinking3.9
  6. Active Listening3.6
  7. Social Perceptiveness3.8
  8. Management of Personnel Resources3.8

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.

  1. High school or less14%
  2. Certificate17%
  3. Some college3%
  4. Associate degree52%
  5. Bachelor's degree14%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

  • St. Philip's
  1. Baking and Pastry Arts

    Degree · Certificate · Business & Entrepreneurship

  2. Culinary Arts

    Degree · Certificate · Business & Entrepreneurship

Apply to Alamo Colleges

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