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Chef Instructor information

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$15

$22

$28

How much do chef instructor jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for chef instructor in Virginia is $22.45, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.52 and $25.00 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Chef Instructor vs Culinary Teacher?

AspectChef InstructorCulinary Teacher
CredentialsCooking certifications, culinary degreesCooking certifications, culinary degrees
Work EnvironmentCooking schools, culinary institutes, vocational schoolsHigh schools, community colleges, culinary programs
Employer & IndustryEducational institutions, culinary academiesEducational institutions, vocational schools
Primary FocusTeaching culinary skills, practical cookingTeaching culinary concepts, theory, and skills

Both Chef Instructors and Culinary Teachers typically hold similar credentials and work in educational settings related to culinary arts. The main difference lies in their focus: Chef Instructors often emphasize practical cooking skills and hands-on training, while Culinary Teachers may focus more on culinary theory and broader educational objectives. Both roles are essential in culinary education, preparing students for careers in the food industry.

What are some common challenges chef instructors face when transitioning from industry kitchens to the classroom?

Chef Instructors often find the shift from a fast-paced restaurant environment to teaching requires adapting their communication and leadership styles. Instructors must break down complex culinary techniques into clear, teachable steps and exercise patience as students develop their skills. Additionally, balancing curriculum requirements with hands-on practice and providing individualized feedback to diverse learners can be challenging. Successful Chef Instructors leverage their industry experience while cultivating a supportive, educational atmosphere that fosters student growth.

What is a chef instructor?

Chef Instructors are culinary professionals who teach and train students in cooking techniques, food safety, kitchen management, and recipe development. They work in culinary schools, community colleges, or private cooking classes, sharing their expertise and passion for food. Chef Instructors are responsible for developing lesson plans, demonstrating cooking methods, and evaluating student progress to ensure a high standard of culinary education.

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

To thrive as a Chef Instructor, you need a strong culinary background, professional kitchen experience, and often a culinary arts degree or certification. Familiarity with commercial kitchen equipment, food safety standards, and teaching technologies is essential. Excellent communication, leadership, and patience are standout soft skills for effectively mentoring students of diverse skill levels. These skills ensure high-quality instruction, safe kitchen operations, and the ability to inspire and develop future culinary professionals.

What does a chef instructor do?

Chef instructors teach students about the culinary arts. In this role, you may demonstrate how to make various types of food, cover commercial cooking aspects such as safety and sanitation regulations, and help prepare students to handle the duties and responsibilities of being a professional chef. Most chef instructors fall into one of two categories. General teachers focus on basic cooking skills like tools and everyday ingredients, both of which can vary by region. Specialized instructors concentrate on certain types of cuisine, such as ethnic foods. Most chef instructors work at public culinary schools, but a few work exclusively for large food service companies to train chefs and ensure they meet company standards.

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Chef Instructor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Chef Instructor job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 68% Full Time, 28% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $46,705 per year, or $22.5 per hour.

Chef Instructor, Savory (Sur La Table)

CSC Generation

Mclean, VA

Part-time

Posted 9 days ago

Job description

With over 58 stores and the largest avocational cooking program in the US, Sur La Table offers an unsurpassed selection of exclusive and premium-quality goods for the kitchen and table – and the culinary expertise and inspiration to go along with it. Whether the job entails interacting with our customers, driving digital growth, or providing vital behind-the-scenes support, we’re all here for the same reason – to roll up our sleeves and create happiness through cooking and sharing good food. 

Position Overview
As a Chef Instructor, Savory at Sur La Table, you are the in-store expert and advocate for all things savory cooking. You deliver #bestincenter service, a company-wide standard for excellence in service, by sharing specialized knowledge in culinary techniques, cooking fundamentals, and personalized instruction that supports all company initiatives. The Chef Instructor, Savory plays a key role in inspiring a love for cooking while driving sales of cookware, cutlery, and kitchen tools through hands-on savory classes and engaging culinary instruction.
 
Key Responsibilities
Customer Experience & Brand Representation
·        Represent Sur La Table’s brand and culture by creating memorable, educational experiences that inspire repeat visits and customer loyalty. 
·        Deliver exceptional in-store culinary experiences focused on savory cooking classes that reflect Sur La Table’s passion for food, teaching, and high standards, while following provided recipes and game plans to ensure consistency and quality.
·        Communicate technical cooking concepts and savory techniques in a clear, encouraging, and approachable manner.
·        Maintains expertise by staying current on products, actively engaging in available training, and independently seeking out additional resources.
Sales & Business Performance
·        Drive sales by upholding kitchen standards, encouraging second class sign-ups through strong customer engagement, and promoting retail items used or featured in class.
·        Deliver class revenue goals by ensuring high enrollment, positive reviews, and guest return rates.
·        Consistently meet or exceed culinary program goals by delivering exceptional classes that drive customer engagement and sales. Performance is measured by key KPIs such as second-class sign-ups, retail culinary product sales, and guest feedback through Google reviews.
Team Engagement & Store Support
·        Assist in setting up and breakdown of classes including organizing mise en place, prepping ingredients, and cleaning workstations.
·        Clean and sanitize dishes and equipment promptly to ensure smooth kitchen operations.
·        Assist with restocking, organizing, and maintaining kitchen supplies and tools to support overall store readiness.
Operations & Compliance
·        Ensure compliance with food safety standards, local health codes, and sanitation regulations.
·        Properly handle all tools, ingredients, and kitchen equipment to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.
·        Maintain accurate inventory levels, minimize shrink, and control supply and culinary expenses.
·        May handle liquor, wine, and beer in compliance with state and location alcohol regulations, company policies, including enforcing age restrictions.
·        Ensure store safety and cleanliness, addressing any maintenance needs promptly.
·        Adhere to applicable wage and hour laws.  Accurately records time worked according to SLT Policy.
·        Model and ensure consistent adherence to all Sur La Table policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
 
Physical Requirements
·        Ability to communicate verbally and work cooperatively with associates and customers.
·        Ability to remain standing for up to 4 hours at a time.
·        Ability to move about the store directing class participants while selling to customers and retrieving merchandise from stockroom or sales floor.
·        The capability to accurately perceive and differentiate variations in intensity or quality of flavors or odors, or to identify specific tastes or scents using the tongue or nose.
·        Ability to grab, reach, push, pull, bend, stoop, kneel and crouch to demonstrate, retrieve and/or replenish merchandise and/or cooking equipment.
·        Ability to use hands to seize, hold, grasp, turn, or otherwise to chop, whisk, slice, stir, juice and/or demonstrate other techniques.
·        Ability to lift and/or move merchandise weighing up to 50 lbs.
·        Ability to ascend/descend ladders to retrieve and/or move merchandise.
·        Ability to operate a computer, POS system, keyboards, merchandise scanners and mouse to accomplish work.
·        Available to work between 12 and 16 hours per week, with a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays. While this is the minimum availability, scheduled hours may differ based on business needs.
·        Regular and predictable attendance with the flexibility to adjust class assignments based on demand.
·        Ability to work in a variable kitchen environment included but not limited to open flames, hot surfaces, temperature variations, various food allergens both physical and airborne.
 
Qualifications & Experience
·        Must be 21 years of age or older at the time of employment.
·        A degree in culinary arts is preferred; however, candidates with extensive culinary experience and demonstrated technical proficiency will be considered in lieu of formal education.
·        1-2 years of kitchen operations experience.
·        Valid Food Manager Certification.
·        Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
·        Passion for community engagement and providing exceptional customer experiences.
This job description represents a summary of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties. Responsibilities, tasks, and duties of the jobholder might differ from those outlined in the job description and other duties, as assigned, may be part of the job. This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Sur La Table has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.

The CSC family of brands provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, provincial, state or local laws.  
 
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
 
Washington state applicants only: If you believe that this job posting does not comply with applicable Washington state law, please notify us by sending an email to WACandidates@cscshared.com. 
 
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie-detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. 
  
The CSC family of brands is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact hrbenefits@cscshared.com.  

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

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About CSC Generation

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

CSC Generation is a multi-brand technology platform based in Merrillville, IN, United States. The organization operates in the retail sector and utilizes technology to save retail companies from going into bankruptcy, while also offering consumers the ability to lease their purchases. Founded by serial entrepreneur, Justin Yoshimura, CSC Generation has leveraged its proprietary technology and customer database to quickly revitalize distressed retail brands. The company's mission revolves around the concepts of reinvention and innovation as it aims to redefine traditional retail and direct-to-consumer models in today's digital age. Notably, the company has, to date, acquired several brands such as DirectBuy, Killion, and most notably, Z Gallerie, growing fast within the e-commerce sector.

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Merrillville, IN, US

Year founded

2016

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