Career Details
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Career Details

35-1011.00 - Chefs and Head Cooks


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.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
127,500
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
138,800
Estimate
Change in Employment
+11,300
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+8.9%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • 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.
  • Determine how food should be presented and create decorative food displays.
  • Instruct cooks or other workers in the preparation, cooking, garnishing, or presentation of food.
  • Estimate amounts and costs of required supplies, such as food and ingredients.
  • Collaborate with other personnel to plan and develop recipes or menus, taking into account such factors as seasonal availability of ingredients or the likely number of customers.
  • Analyze recipes to assign prices to menu items, based on food, labor, and overhead costs.
  • Prepare and cook foods of all types, either on a regular basis or for special guests or functions.
  • Determine production schedules and staff requirements necessary to ensure timely delivery of services.
  • Recruit and hire staff, such as cooks and other kitchen workers.
  • Meet with customers to discuss menus for special occasions, such as weddings, parties, or banquets.
  • Demonstrate new cooking techniques or equipment to staff.
  • Meet with sales representatives to negotiate prices or order supplies.
  • Arrange for equipment purchases or repairs.
  • Record production or operational data on specified forms.
  • Plan, direct, or supervise food preparation or cooking activities of multiple kitchens or restaurants in an establishment such as a restaurant chain, hospital, or hotel.
  • Coordinate planning, budgeting, or purchasing for all the food operations within establishments such as clubs, hotels, or restaurant chains.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Food Production
  • 94%
    Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 83%
    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.
 Production and Processing
  • 81%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 Administration and Management
  • 81%
    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.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 79%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
 Mathematics
  • 78%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Education and Training
  • 77%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 English Language
  • 74%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 72%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Economics and Accounting
  • 70%
    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
 Sales and Marketing
  • 67%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
 Clerical
  • 66%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 65%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Psychology
  • 63%
    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
 Chemistry
  • 58%
    Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
 Mechanical
  • 57%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
 Biology
  • 55%
    Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
 Communications and Media
  • 55%
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
 Design
  • 54%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 Law and Government
  • 53%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
 Transportation
  • 50%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Domestic kitchen tools and utensils
  • Apple corers
  • Cream whippers
  • Instant-read pocket thermometers
  • Kitchen tongs
  • Knife sharpeners
  • Mandolines
  • Meat thermometers
  • Melon ballers
  • Parisian cutters
  • Refrigerator thermometers
  • Sieves
  • Sifters
  • Strainers
  • Vegetable brushes
 Industrial freezers
  • Blast chillers
 Food preparation equipment
  • Blenders
  • Box graters
  • Bread slicers
  • Cake decorating tools
  • Commercial coffee grinders
  • Commercial dishwashers
  • Food dicers
  • Food processors
  • Food shredders
  • Fruit zesters
  • Juice extractors
  • Meat grinders
  • Meat slicers
  • Mixers
  • Pasta machines
  • Plane graters
  • Portion scales
  • Slicing machines
  • Vegetable peelers
 Cookware and kitchen tools
  • Bone saws
  • Boning knives
  • Chefs' knives
  • Dry or liquid measuring cups
  • Kitchen shears
  • Oyster knives
  • Paring knives
  • Rolling pins
  • Serrated blade knives
  • Woks
 Cooking and warming equipment
  • Braziers
  • Broilers
  • Commercial coffeemakers
  • Commercial microwave ovens
  • Convection ovens
  • Conveyer ovens
  • Electric deep-fat fryers
  • Electric ovens
  • Electric stoves
  • Food smokers
  • Gas ovens
  • Gas stoves
  • Gas-powered deep-fat fryers
  • Griddles
  • Grills
  • Hot dog cookers
  • Infrared heat lamps
  • Pizza ovens
  • Pressurized steam cookers
  • Rice cookers
  • Rotisserie units
  • Salamanders
  • Steam kettles
  • Steam tables
  • Toasters
  • Waffle makers
 Food and beverage dispensing equipment
  • Cappuccino makers
  • Carbonated beverage dispensers
  • Ice shaving or crushing equipment
  • Ice-making machines
  • Juice dispensers
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
 Domestic cookware
  • Double boilers
 Fire fighting equipment
  • Fire suppression blankets
  • Kitchen fire extinguishers
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Finance accounting and enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • ADP eTIME
  • Delphi Technology
  • Sage MAS 90 ERPHOT
 Industry specific software
  • Axxya Systems Nutritionist Pro
  • GNOME Gnutrition
  • IPro Restaurant Inventory, Recipe & Menu Software
  • Nutrition analysis software
 Data management and query software
  • Barrington Software CookenPro Commercial
  • CostGuard
  • Culinary Software Services ChefTec
  • EGS CALCMENU
  • Menu planning software
  • ReServe Interactive
 Business function specific software
  • EGS F&B Control
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
 Information exchange software
  • Email software
  • GroupMe
 Content authoring and editing software
  • FacebookHOT
  • Google spreadsheet
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • SoftCafe MenuPro
 Network applications software
  • Internet browser software
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Specialty
 Advanced
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Piedmont Virginia Community College
Rappahannock Community College
Southwest Virginia Community College
Tidewater Community College
Virginia Western Community College