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Certified Executive Chef Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Executive Chef

Austin, TX ยท On-site

$70K - $97K/yr

Certified Executive Chef, highly preferred. * ServeSafe certification, preferred. * Ability to read, write and understand the English language in order to direct, manage, hire and train kitchen staff ...

Executive Chef

Austin, TX ยท On-site

$70K - $97K/yr

Certified Executive Chef, highly preferred. * ServeSafe certification, preferred. * Ability to read, write and understand the English language in order to direct, manage, hire and train kitchen staff ...

PR ยท On-site

$57K - $79K/yr

Certification as a Certified Executive Chef (CEC) from an organization like the American Culinary Federation is also highly regarded. * Experience: A minimum of 5-8 years of progressive culinary ...

Executive Chef

Boise, ID

$67K - $92K/yr

Chef or Certified Executive, with culinary education and/or Chef designation * Authorized to work in the United States * Advanced Food Safety or HACCP certification * Minimum 8 years of experience in ...

Executive Chef

Boise, ID ยท On-site

$67K - $92K/yr

Chef or Certified Executive, with culinary education and/or Chef designation * Authorized to work in the United States * Advanced Food Safety or HACCP certification * Minimum 8 years of experience in ...

Executive Chef

Salt Lake City, UT ยท On-site

$69K - $95K/yr

Chef or Certified Executive, with culinary education and/or Chef designation * Authorized to work in the United States * Advanced Food Safety or HACCP certification * Minimum 8 years of experience in ...

Executive Chef

Salt Lake City, UT

$69K - $95K/yr

Chef or Certified Executive, with culinary education and/or Chef designation * Authorized to work in the United States * Advanced Food Safety or HACCP certification * Minimum 8 years of experience in ...

Executive Chef

Powell, OH

$68K - $93K/yr

Certified Executive Chef preferred. * Minimum four years of industry and culinary management experience. * Upscale dining experience required. * Must demonstrates proven leadership abilities ...

Executive Chef

Waukee, IA ยท On-site

$68K - $94K/yr

Certified Executive Chef preferred. * Minimum four years of industry and culinary management experience. * Upscale dining experience required. * Must demonstrates proven leadership abilities ...

Executive Chef

Waukee, IA

$68K - $94K/yr

Certified Executive Chef preferred. * Minimum four years of industry and culinary management experience. * Upscale dining experience required. * Must demonstrates proven leadership abilities ...

Executive Chef

Utica, MI

$65K - $89K/yr

Certified Executive Chef preferred. * Minimum four years of industry and culinary management experience. * Upscale dining experience required. * Must demonstrates proven leadership abilities ...

Executive Chef

Shelby Township, MI

$63K - $87K/yr

Certified Executive Chef preferred. * Minimum four years of industry and culinary management experience. * Upscale dining experience required. * Must demonstrates proven leadership abilities ...

Executive Chef

Powell, OH

$68K - $93K/yr

Certified Executive Chef preferred. * Minimum four years of industry and culinary management experience. * Upscale dining experience required. * Must demonstrates proven leadership abilities ...

Executive Chef

Shelby, MI ยท On-site

$65K - $89K/yr

Certified Executive Chef preferred. * Minimum four years of industry and culinary management experience. * Upscale dining experience required. * Must demonstrates proven leadership abilities ...

Executive Chef

Ankeny, IA

$67K - $92K/yr

Certified Executive Chef preferred. * Minimum four years of industry and culinary management experience. * Upscale dining experience required. * Must demonstrates proven leadership abilities ...

Executive Chef

New Hudson, MI

$72K - $99K/yr

Certified Executive Chef preferred. * Minimum four years of industry and culinary management experience. * Upscale dining experience required. * Must demonstrates proven leadership abilities ...

Executive Chef

Walton, KY

$66K - $90K/yr

Certified Executive Chef preferred. * Minimum four years of industry and culinary management experience. * Upscale dining experience required. * Must demonstrates proven leadership abilities ...

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Certified Executive Chef information

See salary details

$40K

$86.9K

$130K

How much do certified executive chef jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for certified executive chef in the United States is $86,886.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $71,500.00 and $98,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Certified Executive Chef vs Executive Chef?

CriteriaCertified Executive ChefExecutive Chef
CertificationsRequires certification from recognized culinary organizationsMay or may not hold formal certifications
Work EnvironmentHigh-end restaurants, hotels, culinary institutionsVaries from restaurants to catering services
Employer & Industry UsageOften preferred or required by employers for prestigeCommonly used title regardless of certification

The Certified Executive Chef designation emphasizes formal certification and recognized culinary expertise, often preferred by employers seeking verified credentials. An Executive Chef may or may not have certification but still holds a leadership role in the kitchen. Certification can enhance career prospects, but both roles involve overseeing kitchen operations and culinary staff.

What is a Certified Executive Chef?

A Certified Executive Chef (CEC) is a professional chef who has earned formal certification from a recognized culinary organization, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). This designation demonstrates advanced culinary skills, leadership abilities, and management experience in professional kitchens. Certified Executive Chefs are responsible for overseeing kitchen staff, menu creation, food quality, and operational efficiency. Achieving this certification involves passing rigorous written and practical exams, as well as meeting experience and education requirements. The CEC credential is highly respected in the culinary industry and can open doors to leadership roles in restaurants, hotels, and other food service establishments.

Is CDC higher than executive chef?

A Certified Executive Chef is a professional culinary leader with recognized certification, while CDC typically refers to a health or safety organization and is not a job title. Therefore, CDC is not a job position and cannot be compared in hierarchy to an executive chef. The executive chef role focuses on kitchen management, culinary skills, and menu development, whereas CDC-related roles involve public health and safety responsibilities.

What does Gordon Ramsay pay his executive chef?

Gordon Ramsay's executive chefs typically earn between $70,000 and $150,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the specific restaurant. Compensation may also include bonuses, benefits, and opportunities for career advancement within his restaurant group.

How much does an executive chef get paid?

An executive chef's salary varies based on experience, location, and establishment size, but typically ranges from $50,000 to $100,000 annually. In high-end restaurants or large hotels, salaries can exceed $100,000, especially for those with advanced certifications and extensive management skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Certified Executive Chef, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Certified Executive Chef, you need advanced culinary expertise, menu development skills, and a formal culinary degree or certification such as a Certified Executive Chef (CEC) credential. Mastery of kitchen management software, food safety systems, and inventory control tools is typically required. Strong leadership, creativity, and effective communication set standout chefs apart in managing teams and delivering exceptional dining experiences. These skills are crucial for ensuring operational excellence, innovative cuisine, and high standards of food quality and safety.

How to be a certified executive chef?

To become a certified executive chef, you typically need to gain experience in culinary roles, complete a culinary arts program, and obtain certification from a recognized organization such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). Certification often requires passing a practical exam and demonstrating leadership skills in a professional kitchen environment.

What are some common challenges Certified Executive Chefs face when managing kitchen staff, and how can these be addressed?

Certified Executive Chefs often face challenges such as maintaining effective communication with a diverse team, ensuring consistent food quality during busy service periods, and managing staff turnover. To address these, executive chefs typically implement thorough training programs, foster an open-door policy for feedback, and develop clear standard operating procedures. Building a positive kitchen culture through mentorship and recognition also plays a vital role in retaining talent and maintaining high performance.
More about Certified Executive Chef jobs
What cities are hiring for Certified Executive Chef jobs? Cities with the most Certified Executive Chef job openings:
What states have the most Certified Executive Chef jobs? States with the most job openings for Certified Executive Chef jobs include:
Infographic showing various Certified Executive Chef job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 2% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $86,886 per year, or $41.8 per hour.

$70K - $97K/yr

Full-time, Part-time

Posted 27 days ago


Job description

About Grand Living

Grand Living is changing the way generations embrace life and is quickly becoming an iconic brand in senior hospitality. What began as a vision to create distinctive senior living communities has evolved into a collection of remarkable residences, offering luxury-inspired amenities and extraordinary service to residents and guests. Our communities include gracious apartments, stunning dรฉcor and design excellence at every turn, but from the moment you are greeted, you'll experience something far more luxurious than the architecture: our people. Their unparalleled commitment to personal service in every engagement is at the very heart of what we do.

About the Position

The Executive Chef is responsible for enhancing the overall Resident experience through the provision of exceptional oversight and culinary training to kitchen employees and directing of all menu offerings. The Executive Chef supervises and coordinates culinary activities for all dining venues: Bistro, Casual, Formal, Luminationsยฎ memory care and Club Room, as well as special events and private functions. This is to be handled in The Sterling Touchยฎ professional, friendly, courteous, helpful and timely manner, resulting in a very high level of satisfaction for Residents and their guests. The Executive Chef position is under the general guidance of the Executive director in accordance with Community standards, processes, procedures, practices, and philosophies.

Qualifications and Requirements

The Executive Chef must possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

  • College or Culinary School Degree, required.
  • Combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from Culinary school or any other combination of education, training or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
  • Five or more years in Food and Beverage, country club, fine dining, restaurant or senior living hospitality experience.
  • Two or more years managing culinary or dining services, required.
  • Scratch cooking experience, required.
  • Sautรฉ and broiler experience, preferred.
  • Certified Executive Chef, highly preferred.
  • ServeSafe certification, preferred.
  • Ability to read, write and understand the English language in order to direct, manage, hire and train kitchen staff, complete requisitions, read recipes and communicate with other employees as well as Residents and their guests.
  • Sufficient manual dexterity of hands and arms in order to use all kitchen equipment and utensils (e.g. knives, spoons spatulas, tongs, slicers, etc.)
  • Ability to stand, walk, climb stairs, crouch, bend, stoop, reach, grasp, push, pull and work continuously without sitting for extended periods of time.
  • Ability to lift or carry, push or pull up to 50 pounds.

Benefits

For the Executive Chef position, we offer competitive compensation and a full benefits package for full-time employees including 1) a generous Paid Time Off (PTO) program offering 120 hours of PTO in the first year, increasing to 160 hours in the second year, and continuing to build with length of service; 2) affordable insurance options for medical, dental, vision and more; 3) a 401(k) with a 4% company match on a 5% contribution, 4) automatic life insurance and AD&D coverage for all team members with a robust employee assistance program (EAP).

PTO is earned at lesser rates for part-time staff. Grand Living is a high-end upscale environment including exquisite cuisine and free employee meals (must meet eligibility requirements), Grand Spa & Fitness facilities available for use at designated times.

Equal Employment Opportunity

At Grand Living, our motto is "Your Life. Uniquely Embraced." We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all, where our differences aren't just accepted, but celebrated.