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Airline Chef Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Sous Chef - Airline Catering Job Location: Austin-USA-78719 Work Location Type: On-Site Salary Range: $57,000.00 - 71,000.00 About us Since 1942, SkyChefs has taken culinary excellence to new heights.

Head Chef - Airline Catering Production Job Location: Jamaica-USA-11430 Work Location Type: On-Site Salary Range: $94,000.00 - 110,000.00 About us Since 1942, SkyChefs has taken culinary excellence ...

$57K - $71K/yr

Sous Chef - Airline Catering Job Location: Austin-USA-78719 Work Location Type: On-Site Salary Range: $57,000.00 - 71,000.00 About us Since 1942, SkyChefs has taken culinary excellence to new heights.

$94K - $110K/yr

Head Chef - Airline Catering Production Job Location: Jamaica-USA-11430 Work Location Type: On-Site Salary Range: $94,000.00 - 110,000.00 About us Since 1942, SkyChefs has taken culinary excellence ...

$60K - $72K/yr

Job Title: Production Sous Chef - Airline Catering Job Location: Baltimore-USA-21240 Work Location Type: On-Site Salary Range: $60,000.00 - 72,000.00 About us LSG Sky Chefs is one of the world ...

Production Sous Chef - Airline Catering Job Location: Jamaica-USA-11430 Work Location Type: On-Site Salary Range: $76,000.00 - 85,000.00 About us Since 1942, SkyChefs has taken culinary excellence to ...

$60K - $75K/yr

Sous Chef- Airline Catering (PM/Evening) Job Location: Denver-USA-80249 Work Location Type: On-Site Salary Range: $60,000.00 - 75,000.00 About us Since 1942, SkyChefs has taken culinary excellence to ...

Role Overview Sodexo's Airline Lounge Segment has an exciting opportunity for a seasoned Executive Chef to join the elite team of professionals who will operate the Polish Airlines Lounge at O'Hare ...

Role Overview Sodexo's Airline Lounge Segment has an exciting opportunity for a seasoned Executive Chef to join the elite team of professionals who will operate the Polish Airlines Lounge at O'Hare ...

$76K - $84K/yr

Production Sous Chef - Airline Catering Job Location: Jamaica-USA-11430 Work Location Type: On-Site Salary Range: $76,000.00 - 84,000.00 About us Since 1942, SkyChefs has taken culinary excellence to ...

Airline Lounges Executive Chef

Chicago, IL · On-site

$73K - $101K/yr

Role Overview Sodexo's Airline Lounge Segment has an exciting opportunity for a seasoned Executive Chef to join the elite team of professionals who will operate the Polish Airlines Lounge at O'Hare ...

Head Chef

Seattle, WA

$90K - $105K/yr

Head Chef Location : Seattle, WA (Onsite) Salary : $90,000 - $105,000 per year About the Company ... airline catering, onboard hospitality, and aviation logistics services, preparing and delivering ...

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Head Chef

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$86K - $108K/yr

Head Chef Job Location: Santa Ana-USA-92626 Work Location Type: On-Site Salary Range: $86,417.73 ... As a trusted partner to the nation's leading airlines and retailers, we proudly deliver millions of ...

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Airline Chef information

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How much do airline chef jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for airline 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 do airline chefs do?

Airline chefs prepare and cook meals for in-flight service, ensuring food safety and quality standards are met. They often work in specialized kitchens or onboard aircraft, using culinary skills and knowledge of airline catering regulations to create menus suitable for passengers and crew.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of an Airline Chef?

Airline Chefs are responsible for preparing, cooking, and packaging large quantities of meals that meet airline specifications, ensuring they adhere to safety and hygiene standards. Their daily tasks often include working closely with catering managers, overseeing kitchen staff, and adapting menus to accommodate passenger dietary needs and flight routes. They also participate in quality control, manage inventory, and coordinate the timing of meal preparation with flight schedules. This role involves fast-paced teamwork and constant attention to detail to ensure every meal served in-flight maintains the highest standards.

How much do airline chefs make?

Airline chefs, also known as in-flight catering chefs, typically earn between $30,000 and $70,000 annually, depending on experience, airline size, and location. Salaries can vary based on the complexity of menu preparation, certifications, and the airline's policies, with some senior or specialized chefs earning higher wages.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Airline Chef position, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Airline Chef, you need extensive culinary training, experience in high-volume food preparation, and a strong understanding of food safety and hygiene standards. Familiarity with industrial kitchen equipment, airline catering logistics, and certifications such as ServSafe or equivalent are typically required. Strong organizational skills, adaptability, and teamwork are essential soft skills for coordinating with catering teams and meeting tight deadlines. These skills ensure meals meet both strict safety standards and customer satisfaction while operating within the unique constraints of in-flight service.

How to become an inflight chef?

To become an inflight chef, you typically need culinary training or experience in professional kitchens, along with knowledge of food safety and airline catering standards. Many airlines prefer candidates with certifications such as ServSafe and strong skills in food preparation, menu planning, and working in confined environments. Gaining experience in catering or hospitality can also improve your chances of qualifying for an inflight chef position.

What is the highest paid chef job?

The highest paid chef jobs are typically executive chefs or head chefs in high-end restaurants, luxury hotels, or private estates, with salaries reaching over $100,000 annually. Specialized roles such as corporate culinary directors or chefs working in the airline industry for first-class services can also command high salaries, especially with extensive experience and advanced culinary skills.

What does an Airline Chef do?

An Airline Chef is responsible for designing and preparing in-flight meals that meet airline standards and passenger preferences. They create menus, ensure food safety and quality, and coordinate with catering teams to produce meals in large quantities. Airline Chefs must consider nutritional balance, dietary restrictions, and strict time constraints while maintaining high culinary standards.

More about Airline Chef jobs
What cities are hiring for Airline Chef jobs? Cities with the most Airline Chef job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Airline Chef jobs? The most popular types of Airline Chef jobs are:
What states have the most Airline Chef jobs? States with the most job openings for Airline Chef jobs include:
Infographic showing various Airline Chef job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 78% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 2% Contract, 1% Nights, and 1% Summer. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $51,225 per year, or $24.6 per hour.
Sous Chef - Airline Catering

Sous Chef - Airline Catering

LSG Sky Chefs

Austin, TX • On-site

$57K - $71K/yr

Full-time

Posted 8 days ago


LSG Group rating

5.8

Company rating: 5.8 out of 10

Based on 30 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

327th of 355 rated logistics


Job description

Posting Start Date: 7/6/26
Job Title: Sous Chef - Airline Catering
Job Location: Austin-USA-78719
Work Location Type: On-Site
Salary Range: $57,000.00 - 71,000.00
About us
Since 1942, SkyChefs has taken culinary excellence to new heights. As a trusted partner to the nation's leading airlines and retailers, we proudly deliver millions of meals and exceptional service experiences every year across 43 sites throughout the United States. Built on a legacy of operational excellence, culinary expertise, and continuous innovation, we are committed to setting the industry standard in aviation culinary, airline services, last-mile logistics, and retail commerce. From the kitchen to the runway, our teams work together to deliver quality, reliability, and service at every altitude. Our people are the heart of everything we do. At SkyChefs, a career is more than a job - it's an opportunity to grow, lead, and make an impact in a fast-paced, team-driven environment. Join America's first, foremost, and finest and take your career to new heights.
Position Overview
We are seeking a highly driven Sous Chef to join our culinary leadership team, reporting directly to the Executive Chef. This role is ideal for a hands-on leader with commercial food production experience who thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume environment and is passionate about both operational excellence and culinary innovation.
In this role, you will share oversight of production for premium airline catering, ensuring meals are executed to the highest standards of quality, consistency, and food safety. You'll lead and develop team members in collaboration with the Executive Chef.
We're looking for someone who combines strong kitchen leadership with a forward-thinking mindset. Someone who not only executes but also contributes to evolving menus, improving processes, and bringing fresh ideas to life.
  • Work location: onsite @ our SkyChefs kitchen facility located near Austin Bergstrom Airport
  • Work schedule: work 5 consecutive days on and have 2 consecutive days off. Must be flexible to work early mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays as needed to support our business operations
  • Benefits: available day 1 of employment - no waiting period
  • We operation 24/7, 365

Main Accountabilities
Food Production
  • Executes and supervises food production activities, e.g. proper cleaning, cutting, marinating, seasoning, cooking of food items etc.
  • Assumes responsibilities of Executive Chef when he/she not available ie. Vacation, off-days, menu presentation to customers, etc.
  • Supervise, coordinate and control kitchen helpers in food storage (e.g. maintaining tidiness, following the first in - first out principle)
  • Conducts, coordinates and supervises inventories
  • Monitors material consumption and orders required food and equipment on a daily basis to satisfy the daily production plan
  • Participates in the development of food products and menus as needed for menu presentations
  • Must be aware of content in catering manuals; conducts updates when necessary
  • Executes countermeasures in the production in case of customer complaints
  • Supports training of kitchen staff

Quality
  • Maintains and monitors hygiene, health and safety standards and monitors that Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulations are adhered to
  • Maintains and monitors quality, conducts quality control checks according to HACCP regulations
  • Conducts quality checks of goods received
  • Monitors and ensures compliance with recipe specifications

Leadership
  • Ensure that the area of responsibility is properly organized, staffed and directed
  • Guide, motivate and develop the subordinate employees within the Human Resources Policy
  • Make the company's values and management principles live in the department(s)
  • Implement and control the cost budget in the area of responsibility; initiate and steer corrective actions in case of deviations
  • Participate and support company sponsored initiatives such as Global Quality Standard (GQS), HACCP, Lean Manufacturing

Knowledge, Skills and Experience
  • Formal Culinary Degree or equivalent (Apprenticeship, Culinary Related Military Training, Certification with ACF, Etc.) required
  • 3+ years experience in culinary operations
  • Strong knowledge of HACCP, food safety and sanitation standards.
  • Bilingual highly preferred
  • Union experience a plus
  • Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple production priorities in a fast-paced, high-volume culinary environment.
  • Understand and demonstrate concepts of financial controls (ex: keep food cost within budget, control stock levels while being cost conscious, minimize waste)
  • Strong leadership, communication and organizational skills
  • Service orientation mindset with an entrepreneurial spirit
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Windows-based computer applications

SkyChefs is an EEO and Affirmative Action Employer of Women/Minorities/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.

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