Career Paths From Chefs and Head Cooks

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Food Service ManagersCareer Change96.7% skill match
Chefs and Head Cooks and Food Service Managers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Food Service Managers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 11% higher.
Current median salary
$62,470
Target median salary
$69,390
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaLateral Move93.7% skill match
Chefs and Head Cooks and Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 40% lower.
Current median salary
$62,470
Target median salary
$37,450
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersLateral Move95.1% skill match
Chefs and Head Cooks and First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 29% lower.
Current median salary
$62,470
Target median salary
$44,080
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural ManagersCareer Change92.6% skill match
Chefs and Head Cooks and Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (4 vs 3). Median salary is about 44% higher.
Current median salary
$62,470
Target median salary
$89,900
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
4
Lodging ManagersCareer Change92.3% skill match
Chefs and Head Cooks and Lodging Managers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Lodging Managers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (4 vs 3). Median salary is about 11% higher.
Current median salary
$62,470
Target median salary
$69,250
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
4
Administrative Services ManagersCareer Change93.5% skill match
Chefs and Head Cooks and Administrative Services Managers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Administrative Services Managers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 83% higher.
Current median salary
$62,470
Target median salary
$114,130
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersCareer Change92.3% skill match
Chefs and Head Cooks and First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 6% lower.
Current median salary
$62,470
Target median salary
$58,430
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesCareer Change94.6% skill match
Chefs and Head Cooks and First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 70% higher.
Current median salary
$62,470
Target median salary
$106,040
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersCareer Change94.2% skill match
Chefs and Head Cooks and First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 21% lower.
Current median salary
$62,470
Target median salary
$49,100
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Facilities ManagersCareer Change92.4% skill match
Chefs and Head Cooks and Facilities Managers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Facilities Managers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 71% higher.
Current median salary
$62,470
Target median salary
$106,660
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
General and Operations ManagersCareer Change93.6% skill match
Chefs and Head Cooks and General and Operations Managers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). General and Operations Managers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (4 vs 3). Median salary is about 69% higher.
Current median salary
$62,470
Target median salary
$105,770
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
4
Industrial Production ManagersCareer Change95.5% skill match
Chefs and Head Cooks and Industrial Production Managers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Industrial Production Managers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (4 vs 3). Median salary is about 102% higher.
Current median salary
$62,470
Target median salary
$126,060
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
4
First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersCareer Change94.3% skill match
Chefs and Head Cooks and First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 10% lower.
Current median salary
$62,470
Target median salary
$55,940
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Construction ManagersCareer Change93.1% skill match
Chefs and Head Cooks and Construction Managers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Construction Managers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (4 vs 3). Median salary is about 84% higher.
Current median salary
$62,470
Target median salary
$114,990
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
4
Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except GamblingCareer Change92.2% skill match
Chefs and Head Cooks and Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (4 vs 3). Median salary is about 27% higher.
Current median salary
$62,470
Target median salary
$79,520
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
4

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.