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Chef Helper Jobs in Washington, DC (NOW HIRING)

Truluck's

Sous Chef (Fine Dining)

Washington, DC

$56K - $76K/yr

Our professional sous chefs help us deliver these core values to our guests and communities daily. Our mission is simple. We are here to make good things happen for other people. Who are you? We are ...

Posted today

The Park at 14th

Sous Chef

Washington, DC · On-site

$70K - $75K/yr

We're looking for a driven, detail-oriented Sous Chef to help lead our culinary team. The Role As Sous Chef, you're the Executive Chef's right handrunning the line during service, leading and ...

The Park at 14th

Sous Chef

Washington, DC

$70K - $75K/yr

We're looking for a driven, detail-oriented Sous Chef to help lead our culinary team. The Role As Sous Chef, you're the Executive Chef's right hand-running the line during service, leading and ...

The Park at 14th

Sous Chef

Washington, DC · On-site

$70K - $75K/yr

We're looking for a driven, detail-oriented Sous Chef to help lead our culinary team. The Role As Sous Chef, you're the Executive Chef's right hand-running the line during service, leading and ...

Meriwether Godsey, Inc.

Sous Chef

Washington, DC · On-site

$23 - $26/hr

Meriwether Godsey is looking for a Sous Chef responsible for helping to prepare fabulous meals at an independent Episcopal private day school in NW Washington, DC. * Full Time * Monday-Friday 6:30 am ...

New

RIDGEWELLS INC

Sous Chef

Bethesda, MD · On-site

$52K - $70K/yr

The Sous Chef is responsible for managing the day-to-day food production for our high-volume ... Team player with a positive, helpful personality and strong employee-relation skills * Working ...

Primrose

Sous Chef

Washington, DC

$50K - $60K/yr

Primrose, a French inspired restaurant in Brookland, is looking for a Sous Chef. We provide a warm ... Speaking Spanish is helpful but not required. Schedule: * Full-time, roughly 50 hours per week with ...

The Fried Rice Collective

Sous Chef

Washington, DC

$60K/yr

Position Overview We're looking for a passionate, organized, and hands-on Sous Chef to help lead our breakfast and brunch kitchen. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, inspires ...

Revel Restaurant

Senior Sous Chef

Alexandria, VA · On-site

$55K/yr

We celebrate the wins, we help each other through the hard shifts, and we genuinely care about each ... The Sous Chef role is a serious one. You're the Executive Chef's right hand, you'll lead the ...

RIDGEWELLS INC

Pastry Sous Chef

Bethesda, MD

POSITION SUMMARY The primary responsibility for the Pastry Sous Chef is to assist the Executive ... Works to help reduce accidents by maintaining a safe, hazard free environment, ensuring that all ...

DIG INN Restaurant Teams

Executive Chef

Washington, DC · On-site

$80K - $85K/yr

DIG is determined to help support the next generation of farmers, cooks and chefs! YOU WILL: * Be responsible for the entire restaurant operation, including PnL responsibilities such as food cost ...

DIG INN Restaurant Teams

Executive Chef

Washington, DC

$80K - $85K/yr

DIG is determined to help support the next generation of farmers, cooks and chefs! YOU WILL: * Be responsible for the entire restaurant operation, including PnL responsibilities such as food cost ...

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Chef Helper information

See Washington, DC salary details

$7

$18

$33

How much do chef helper jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for chef helper in Washington, DC is $18.28, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.19 and $19.36 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How to become a kitchen helper?

To become a kitchen helper, you typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and basic cooking or food handling skills. On-the-job training is common, and good communication, teamwork, and the ability to follow safety procedures are important for success in this role.

What is a chef's helper called?

A chef's helper is commonly called a kitchen assistant or line cook assistant. They support chefs by preparing ingredients, cleaning workstations, and assisting with basic cooking tasks in a professional kitchen environment.

What are some typical daily tasks and challenges faced by a Chef Helper in a professional kitchen?

As a Chef Helper, your daily tasks typically include assisting with food preparation, maintaining cleanliness in the kitchen, organizing ingredients, and supporting chefs with basic cooking tasks. One common challenge is working efficiently in a fast-paced environment, especially during busy meal times. You'll also need to adapt quickly to changing priorities and follow strict food safety standards. Collaborating closely with chefs and other kitchen staff is essential to ensure smooth operations and timely meal preparation.

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

To thrive as a Chef Helper, you need basic food preparation skills, knowledge of kitchen hygiene, and often a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with kitchen appliances, food safety standards, and sometimes certifications like a Food Handler's Permit are typically required. Strong teamwork, attention to detail, and the ability to work efficiently under pressure are important soft skills in this role. These skills ensure kitchen operations run smoothly, food quality is maintained, and safety standards are upheld.

What is the difference between Chef Helper vs Kitchen Assistant?

AspectChef HelperKitchen Assistant
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma; basic culinary training often preferredHigh school diploma; may require food safety certification
Work EnvironmentCommercial kitchens, restaurants, hotelsCommercial kitchens, catering services, restaurants
Employer & Industry UsageCommonly used in hospitality and food service industriesUsed interchangeably with Chef Helper in many settings
Job ResponsibilitiesAssisting with food prep, cleaning, basic cooking tasksSupporting kitchen staff, prep work, cleaning

Both Chef Helper and Kitchen Assistant roles involve supporting kitchen operations with food prep and cleaning. While their responsibilities are similar, 'Chef Helper' is often used in more formal culinary settings, whereas 'Kitchen Assistant' may be more common in casual or institutional environments. Both positions typically require basic food safety knowledge and a high school diploma.

What does a chef helper do?

A chef helper assists in food preparation, such as chopping ingredients, assembling dishes, and maintaining cleanliness in the kitchen. They support chefs and cooks by handling basic tasks, often working under supervision in a fast-paced environment, and may need to follow safety and hygiene standards.

How much is the salary for a kitchen helper?

The salary for a kitchen helper typically ranges from $10 to $15 per hour, depending on location, experience, and the establishment. Entry-level positions may start at the lower end, while experienced helpers or those in high-cost areas can earn more. Overtime and tips may also contribute to overall compensation.
What are the most commonly searched types of Chef jobs in Washington, DC? The most popular types of Chef jobs in Washington, DC are:
Chef Helper jobs near you
Infographic showing various Chef Helper job openings in Washington, DC as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 65% Full Time, and 35% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $38,025 per year, or $18.3 per hour.

Sous Chef (Fine Dining)

Truluck's

Washington, DC

$56K - $76K/yr

Full-time

Posted 21 hours ago

Posted today

Job description

Who We Are

Since opening our doors in 1992, we have dedicated ourselves to creating exhilarating moments and enduring memories. To do so, we bring our core values to your table every day:

Culinary Excellence, Sustainable Seafood, Southern Hospitality, Company Culture, and Philanthropy are what make Truluck’s, Truluck’s.

Our professional sous chefs help us deliver these core values to our guests and communities daily.

Our mission is simple. We are here to make good things happen for other people.


Who are you?

We are currently seeking Professional Fine Dining Sous Chef candidates who will dedicate themselves to this purpose in joining our exceptional team of culinary professionals at our Truluck's DC location. Successful candidates will have a minimum of five (5) years’ previous culinary experience and experience in preparing culinary products, coaching members of the culinary staff and cooking in high-volume environments. The Sous Chef assists the Chef in the overall leadership of the culinary functions. In addition to this, successful candidates must possess the ability to follow all recipes and systems and have a proven history of professionalism, accountability, and team commitment. The ideal candidate will have worked in a similar fine dining steak and seafood kitchen. We are looking for enthusiastic chefs with the heart of a great kitchen manager. Someone who has the drive to be an executive chef in the future. If this sounds like you, we would like to meet you!


Why us?

Truluck’s puts their employees and quality first. At Truluck’s, we make choices that honor the plate, the palate, and the planet. We practice TRU Sustainability, by maintaining an unwavering commitment to serving the highest-quality sustainable seafood. We will never serve endangered, overfished species, and we always follow Ocean Conservancy guidelines. Our Florida Stone Crab is captured by our team of professional crabbers, and our produce is sourced from local growers whenever possible.

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