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Culinary Chef Instructor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Our mission is to make culinary education fun, affordable, and accessible, empowering individuals ... Prior experience as a culinary instructor or chef in a professional kitchen. * Solid understanding ...

Our mission is to make culinary education fun, affordable, and accessible, empowering individuals ... Prior experience as a culinary instructor or chef in a professional kitchen. * Solid understanding ...

Chef Instructor

San Antonio, TX ยท On-site

$75K/yr

POSITION SUMMARY A Culinary Institute of America Culinary Chef Instructor is responsible for teaching students in the classroom and kitchen lab environments, developing curriculum, conducting ...

As an instructor, you won't just be teaching recipes or techniques-you'll be mentoring adult ... Teach and demonstrate culinary techniques in both classroom and kitchen settings. * Deliver lessons ...

Chef Instructor

New York, NY ยท On-site

$75K - $80K/yr

As an instructor, you won't just be teaching recipes or techniques-you'll be mentoring adult ... Teach and demonstrate culinary techniques in both classroom and kitchen settings. * Deliver lessons ...

Chef Instructor

Manhattan, NY ยท On-site

$75K - $80K/yr

As an instructor, you won't just be teaching recipes or techniques-you'll be mentoring adult ... Teach and demonstrate culinary techniques in both classroom and kitchen settings. * Deliver lessons ...

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Culinary Chef Instructor information

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How much do culinary chef instructor jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for culinary chef instructor in the United States is $22.65, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.71 and $25.24 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges Culinary Chef Instructors face in balancing teaching and kitchen management responsibilities?

Culinary Chef Instructors often juggle the dual responsibilities of teaching students and managing the operational aspects of a teaching kitchen. Challenges can include ensuring lessons are engaging while maintaining kitchen safety, adapting teaching methods to accommodate students with varying skill levels, and keeping up with curriculum updates as industry trends evolve. Additionally, Chef Instructors may need to coordinate with other faculty and staff to schedule classes, manage inventory, and support student events, making strong organizational and communication skills essential for success.

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

To thrive as a Culinary Chef Instructor, you need advanced culinary skills, expertise in various cuisines, a culinary degree, and professional kitchen experience, often supported by certifications such as ServSafe or a Certified Executive Chef credential. Familiarity with commercial kitchen equipment, recipe management systems, and instructional technology is typically required. Strong communication, patience, leadership, and the ability to inspire and mentor students are standout soft skills for this role. These skills are crucial for effectively transferring knowledge, maintaining kitchen safety, and fostering a positive learning environment.

What are Culinary Chef Instructors?

Culinary Chef Instructors are experienced culinary professionals who teach cooking techniques, food preparation, kitchen safety, and culinary theory to students in schools, colleges, or cooking classes. They develop lesson plans, demonstrate recipes, and oversee hands-on practice in a teaching kitchen. Chef instructors also evaluate student performance and provide feedback to help them improve their culinary skills. Their goal is to prepare students for careers in the food industry or to enhance their cooking knowledge for personal growth.

What is the difference between Culinary Chef Instructor vs Pastry Chef?

AspectCulinary Chef InstructorPastry Chef
CredentialsCooking certifications, culinary degreesPastry arts certifications, culinary degrees
Work EnvironmentCooking schools, culinary institutesBakery, pastry shops, restaurants
Employer & IndustryEducational institutions, culinary schoolsRestaurants, bakeries, hotels
Search & Comparison IntentTeaching, training, culinary educationPastry making, baking, dessert creation

The main difference between a Culinary Chef Instructor and a Pastry Chef lies in their primary focus. A Culinary Chef Instructor specializes in teaching cooking techniques and culinary skills in educational settings, often holding certifications and degrees in culinary arts. In contrast, a Pastry Chef focuses on creating baked goods and desserts, working mainly in bakeries, restaurants, or hotels. Both roles require culinary expertise, but their work environments and career goals differ significantly.

More about Culinary Chef Instructor jobs
What states have the most Culinary Chef Instructor jobs? States with the most job openings for Culinary Chef Instructor jobs include:
Infographic showing various Culinary Chef Instructor job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 60% Full Time, 39% Part Time, and 1% Temporary. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $47,109 per year, or $22.6 per hour.
Chef Instructor - Phoenix

Chef Instructor - Phoenix

St. Mary's Food Bank

Phoenix, AZ โ€ข On-site

$50K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 22 days ago


Job description

St. Mary's Food Bank is currently seeking an experienced Chef Instructor for our Community Kitchen Program. The Chef Instructor is responsible for teaching culinary skills to a diverse group of individuals as part of a food bank training program aimed at increasing individual self sufficiency. Instructor will create menus and training instruction based on food availability. Instructor will also teach a high level of food handling standards. Directs and works alongside the students to give them the tools they need to be successful in the culinary industry.
Job Responsibilities/Accountabilities:
  • Manages a clean, well maintained and organized kitchen by instructing students in basic sanitation and culinary arts skills, ensuring safe food handling procedures, and maintaining on-going temperature logs in cooler and freezer.
  • Maintains current inventory for all food items, pro-actively utilizing food bank inventory in order to reduce food purchases and placing all food and non-food kitchen orders in a timely fashion.
  • Maintains a professional, helpful and non-threatening learning environment, actively teaching scheduled curriculum topics to students in the kitchen.
  • Coordinates with other instructors, ensuring materials being taught in the classroom and the kitchen are concurrent with employer expectations.
  • Provides knife skill and cooking demonstrations for basic culinary techniques.
  • Assists in developing curriculum and class calendar.
  • Utilizes donated and or purchased food to create given menu
  • Works one on one with struggling students
  • Share best practices learned from real world experience with students to prepare them for the industry
  • Provides written feedback to Manager regarding student progress and recommendations on a weekly basis for student evaluations.
  • Any other duties as assigned by Management.
  • Ability to formulate long term planning and execution
  • Strong ability to meet given deadlines

Qualifications:
Minimum of 5 years work related experience or equivalent combination of education and job-related experience in a Food Service Management Role.
Preferred: Bilingual English/ Spanish
Preferred: AA in Culinary Studies
What we offer:
  • Competitive Compensation Package:
    • Competitive Pay, including:
      • Base Salary: $50,000 Annually
      • 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with a generous employer match
      • Employee Referral Bonus Program
      • Tuition Assistance
  • Comprehensive Benefits:
    • Medical and Insurance Coverage
      • An employee-only medical plan at no cost to you
      • 4 low-cost employee-only, spouse and/or family member medical plans
      • Vision and Dental coverage
      • Health Savings Account generously funded by the employer and Flexible Spending Account options
      • Short- and Long-Term Disability, Life and Accidental Death & Accident Insurance at no cost to you.
      • Employee Assistance and Wellness Programs
      • Optional Pet Insurance and Legal Shield Identity Theft offering
    • Time Off
      • 15 PTO days, accrued bi-weekly, that increases with length of service
      • 40 hours of Personal/Sick time
      • 9 Company Paid Holidays

This is your chance to join a cohesive and welcoming team and make a difference in our Arizona communities. Join our Mission to alleviate hunger.
Qualified candidates are invited to submit their resume to: Careers - St. Mary's Food Bank
St. Mary's Food Bank is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regards to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other protected status under all applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.