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Air Force Chef Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Scott Air Force Base, IL, is located in 30 minutes north of the St. Louis, MO area. What You'll Do * manage the daily food production including production planning and controls; * ensure Sodexo ...

Executive Chef 2

Saint Louis, MO · On-site

$69K - $95K/yr

Scott Air Force Base, IL, is located in 30 minutes north of the St. Louis, MO area. What You'll Do * manage the daily food production including production planning and controls; * ensure Sodexo ...

Executive Chef 2

Scott Air Force Base, IL · On-site

$69K - $95K/yr

Scott Air Force Base, IL, is located in 30 minutes north of the St. Louis, MO area. What You'll Do * manage the daily food production including production planning and controls; * ensure Sodexo ...

JR. SOUS CHEF (TEMPORARY) Jr. Sous Chef is a line cook position for individuals who are familiar ... Ability to pass Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral * Ability to work the following shift:

New

The operation is located in Lexington MA near Hanscom Air Force Base serving a diverse population ... Responsibilities of a Line Cook: Assist Head Chef in all phases of the operation. Develop skills ...

Join our Sodexo Air Force team as our Executive Chef at Ellsworth AFB located just outside beautiful Rapid City, South Dakota. As the chef, you will be working along side active duty airmen in the ...

New

Join our Sodexo Air Force team as our Executive Chef at Ellsworth AFB located just outside beautiful Rapid City, South Dakota. As the chef, you will be working along side active duty airmen in the ...

New

Platform / DevSecOps Lead

Dayton, OH · On-site +1

$136K - $167K/yr

Air Force systems are deployed in classified and unclassified environments in DISA and Cloud. The ... tools (such as Ansible, Chef, TerraForm) * Containerization technologies such as Docker

Sous Chef

Indian Land, SC · On-site

$46K - $63K/yr

... other air contaminants. * May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals ... Medium work: ability to exert 10-35 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligibleup to ...

Sous Chef

Indian Land, SC · On-site

$46K - $63K/yr

... other air contaminants * May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals ... Medium work: ability to exert 10-35 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligibleup to ...

The Community - Tucson AZ Tucson is a place where talented artists, chefs, and craftspeople have ... Tucson - DMAFB Located in the heart of Tucson, Arizona, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is home to 11 ...

The Community - Tucson AZ Tucson is a place where talented artists, chefs, and craftspeople have ... Tucson - DMAFB Located in the heart of Tucson, Arizona, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is home to 11 ...

Sous Chef

Boiling Springs, SC · On-site

$43K - $59K/yr

... other air contaminants * May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals ... Medium work: ability to exert 10-35 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligibleup to ...

Sous Chef

Boiling Springs, SC · On-site

$43K - $59K/yr

... other air contaminants. * May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals ... Medium work: ability to exert 10-35 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligibleup to ...

... States Air Force. Responsible for cloud design, development, engineering, integration, and ... Experience with Ansible, Chef, Puppet, Maven, Gradle, NPM * Knowledge of scripting languages such ...

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Air Force Chef information

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$10

$24

$44

How much do air force chef jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for air force chef in the United States is $24.63, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.83 and $31.01 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Air Force Chef, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Air Force Chef, strong culinary skills, food safety knowledge, and completion of relevant military food service training are essential. Familiarity with large-scale kitchen equipment, inventory management systems, and military food preparation standards is typically required. Attention to detail, teamwork, and the ability to work efficiently under pressure are standout soft skills for this role. These skills ensure the delivery of nutritious, high-quality meals that support the health, morale, and readiness of Air Force personnel.

What is the difference between Air Force Chef vs Army Culinary Specialist?

AspectAir Force ChefArmy Culinary Specialist
CredentialsFood handler permits, culinary certificationsFood handler permits, culinary certifications
Work EnvironmentMilitary bases, dining facilities, mess hallsMilitary bases, dining facilities, mess halls
Employer & IndustryU.S. Air Force, military food serviceU.S. Army, military food service

Both Air Force Chefs and Army Culinary Specialists prepare meals for service members within the military. They share similar certifications, work environments, and industry usage. The main difference lies in their branch of service, with the Air Force Chef serving in the U.S. Air Force and the Army Culinary Specialist in the U.S. Army. Both roles focus on providing nutritious, well-prepared meals in military settings.

What are Air Force Chefs?

Air Force Chefs are culinary professionals who prepare and serve meals for Air Force personnel. They are responsible for planning menus, ensuring food safety, and meeting the dietary needs of service members. In addition to cooking, they also manage kitchen operations, maintain equipment, and sometimes participate in field deployments or special events. Air Force Chefs play a vital role in maintaining morale and supporting the overall mission by providing nutritious and high-quality meals.

What is the $600000 bonus for the Air Force?

The $600,000 bonus for the Air Force typically refers to enlistment or retention incentives offered to certain specialized roles or in high-demand areas. These bonuses are designed to attract and retain qualified personnel and are usually paid out over several years as part of the enlistment contract. Eligibility depends on specific job requirements and service commitments.

Can you be a chef in the Air Force?

Yes, the Air Force employs chefs as Food Service Specialists who prepare and serve meals for personnel. These roles require completing basic military training and specialized culinary training, along with maintaining food safety standards and teamwork skills.

How much do Air Force chefs make?

Air Force chefs, also known as culinary specialists, typically earn a base salary that ranges from approximately $2,000 to $3,500 per month, depending on rank and years of service. They may also receive additional benefits such as housing allowances, healthcare, and retirement options, with opportunities for advancement and specialized training in military culinary programs.

What are some unique challenges Air Force Chefs face compared to civilian chefs?

Air Force Chefs often work in highly structured and fast-paced environments, where they must prepare large quantities of meals to strict nutritional and timing standards, sometimes in remote or deployed locations. Unlike civilian chefs, they must also adhere to military protocols and may be required to support field operations or emergency situations. Additionally, Air Force Chefs collaborate closely with logistics and supply teams to manage inventory, adapt menus based on available ingredients, and ensure all food safety regulations are followed under varying conditions.

Does the military hire chefs?

Yes, the military hires chefs to prepare meals for service members. Military chefs typically work in dining facilities, follow strict nutritional guidelines, and may need culinary certifications or training in food safety. The Air Force, like other branches, employs chefs as part of its support personnel to ensure proper nutrition and morale.
More about Air Force Chef jobs
What states have the most Air Force Chef jobs? States with the most job openings for Air Force Chef jobs include:
Infographic showing various Air Force Chef job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $51,225 per year, or $24.6 per hour.
Executive Chef 2

Executive Chef 2

Sodexo

Scott Air Force Base, IL • On-site

$64K - $83K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 18 days ago


Sodexo rating

6.3

Company rating: 6.3 out of 10

Based on 1,122 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

312th of 449 rated business services


Job description

Role Overview
Creating solutions for everything from dining and nutrition to facilities maintenance and rehabilitative services, Sodexo partners with government agencies and military organizations to improve people's quality of life and make a positive impact.
As Sodexo Government Services continues to have the proud pleasure of supporting the Air Force, we are seeking an Executive Chef 2 to lead the culinary process at Scott AFB, O'Fallon Illinios; serving our dedicated airmen, families and base civilians. The Executive Chef 2 will be a key driver in leading a team of both Subcontractor cooks and Airmen serving a wide variety of fresh and creative offers to our customers. This position will have oversite of an Air Force dining facility located on base.
Excellent advancement opportunities are available to successful candidates as we continue to grow.
The Executive Chef 2 will function as the lead manager in the kitchen and will direct all kitchen staff and operations. Training, menu planning, food quality, food and physical safety, cost controls and client/customer relations are a top focus for the Executive Chef and his/her team.
Scott Air Force Base, IL, is located in 30 minutes north of the St. Louis, MO area.
What You'll Do
  • manage the daily food production including production planning and controls;
  • ensure Sodexo Culinary Standards including recipe compliance and food quality;
  • manage food costing, controls and compliance;
  • have high expectations for customer service and quality of food;
  • have the ability and willingness to develop and train Airmen;

What We Offer
Compensation is fair and equitable, partially determined by a candidate's education level or years of relevant experience. Salary offers are based on a candidate's specific criteria, like experience, skills, education, and training. Sodexo offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:
  • Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Wellness Programs
  • 401(k) Plan with Matching Contributions
  • Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
  • Career Growth Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement

More extensive information is provided to new employees upon hire.
What You Bring
  • a strong culinary background and Culinary Degree or Certification with demonstrated ability to lead a culinary staff
  • excellent leadership and communication skills with the ability to maintain the highest of standards and implements company policies
  • previous experience working in a high-volume facility
  • strong management and relationship building skills
  • a focus on food safety/sanitation and physical safety (ServSafe certification is required)

Who We Are
At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, catering, facilities management, and other integrated solutions worldwide.
Our company values you for you; you will be treated fairly and with respect, and you can be yourself. You will have your ideas count and your opinions heard because we can be a stronger team when you're happy at work. This is why we embrace diversity and inclusion as core values, fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you need assistance with the application process, please complete this form.
Qualifications & Requirements
Minimum Education Requirement - Associate's Degree or equivalent experience
Minimum Management Experience - 2 years
Minimum Functional Experience - 2 years work experience in food or culinary services including restaurants, fast food, vending, catering services, institutional services, mall food courts, etc.

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