How chef salaries are structured
A chef's salary is tied directly to their rank in the kitchen brigade — the same structured ladder that runs from kitchen porter at the bottom to executive chef at the top. This guide covers each rank, with published UK ONS ASHE 2024 ranges for base salary, plus Eurostat-aligned EU averages and Cyprus industry-published benchmarks.
The ranges are gross annual, before tip share or service charge distribution, and before in-kind benefits (accommodation, meals) which can add €5–18K of value per year in resort kitchens.
Last reviewed: May 2026. UK ranges from ONS ASHE 2024 published bands for SOC 5434 (chefs). Cyprus bands sourced from industry surveys and CY Recruitment 2024 annual report.
Commis chef salary {#commis-chef-salary}
The entry-level chef rank. A commis works under a Chef de Partie (CDP) on a single station — sauce, fish, larder, pastry, sauté — learning by doing.
| Region | Gross annual |
|---|---|
| UK (ONS 2024) | £20,000–£25,000 |
| Cyprus (industry) | €13,000–€16,000 + accommodation + meals |
| Western Europe avg | €22,000–€28,000 |
| Eastern Europe avg | €10,000–€18,000 |
UK commis at a London 5-star property can earn at the top of the range; commis at a regional gastropub typically near the bottom. Cyprus commis salaries are lower in cash but almost universally include staff accommodation and at least two meals per shift in hotel and resort kitchens — total package value is typically €18–22K once those are priced in.
Demi Chef de Partie salary {#demi-chef-de-partie-salary}
The second-in-command on a station. See the full Demi Chef de Partie guide for what the role involves.
| Region | Gross annual |
|---|---|
| UK (ONS 2024) | £22,500–£30,000 (median £26,000) |
| Cyprus (industry) | €16,000–€19,000 + accommodation + meals |
| Western Europe avg | €24,000–€32,000 |
The demi rank is sometimes skipped in small kitchens (a commis is promoted straight to CDP), so demi-CDP salary data is thinner than commis or CDP. Where the rank exists, UK demis sit between commis and CDP — typically £3–4K above commis pay.
Chef de Partie salary {#chef-de-partie-salary}
The chef who runs a single station — owns the menu for that section, places orders, calls the station during service.
| Region | Gross annual |
|---|---|
| UK (ONS 2024) | £26,000–£36,000 (median £30,000) |
| Cyprus (industry) | €19,000–€24,000 + accommodation + meals |
| Western Europe avg | €28,000–€38,000 |
| Switzerland | CHF 55,000–CHF 70,000 |
CDP at a Michelin-starred or 5-star property pays at the top of the range. CDPs running pastry section or sauce section tend to earn slightly more than larder or grill section CDPs, reflecting the technical difficulty.
Sous chef salary {#sous-chef-salary}
The second-in-command of the entire kitchen. Runs the line during service, deputises for the head chef.
| Region | Gross annual |
|---|---|
| UK (ONS 2024) | £30,000–£45,000 (median £36,000) |
| Cyprus (industry) | €25,000–€32,000 + accommodation + meals |
| Western Europe avg | €35,000–€48,000 |
| Luxury hotel UK | £45,000–£60,000 + bonus |
Senior sous chefs at hotel properties with multiple outlets (banqueting, room service, fine dining, all-day dining) command the top of the range. The pay step from CDP to sous is typically the biggest single jump in the brigade — reflecting the move from operational to managerial responsibility.
Head chef salary {#head-chef-salary}
Runs the kitchen end-to-end: menu, costing, staffing, supplier management, P&L.
| Region | Gross annual |
|---|---|
| UK (ONS 2024) | £40,000–£70,000 (median £48,000) |
| Cyprus (industry) | €32,000–€55,000 + accommodation + meals + bonus |
| Western Europe avg | €45,000–€75,000 |
| Luxury hotel UK | £65,000–£95,000 + bonus |
| Michelin-starred | £55,000–£120,000+ |
Head chef pay scales sharply with the size and complexity of the kitchen. A head chef running 4 outlets at a 5-star resort with banqueting earns substantially more than a head chef of a 40-cover restaurant. Cyprus 5-star resort head chefs at properties like Anassa, Olympic Lagoon and Annabelle command €55K+ with full package.
Executive chef salary {#executive-chef-salary}
Strategic role across multiple kitchens or properties. Sets menus across a group, manages senior kitchen leadership.
| Region | Gross annual |
|---|---|
| UK (ONS 2024) | £65,000–£100,000+ |
| Cyprus (industry) | €55,000–€90,000+ + accommodation + bonus |
| Western Europe avg | €70,000–€110,000 |
| Multi-property hotel group, UK | £90,000–£150,000 + bonus |
| 5-star international resorts | $130,000–$250,000+ + housing |
Executive chefs at international resort destinations (Maldives, Bali, Cyprus 5-star, Greek islands) often have housing, schooling allowances, and bonus packages that bring total compensation well above headline base.
Pastry chef ranks {#pastry-chef-salary}
Pastry runs its own brigade in parallel — pâtissier (commis pastry), demi chef pâtissier, chef pâtissier. Salaries roughly track the savoury equivalents at the same rank, with a small premium at chef pâtissier level reflecting the smaller pool of qualified pastry chefs.
| Rank | UK gross annual |
|---|---|
| Commis pastry | £20,000–£25,000 |
| Demi chef pâtissier | £24,000–£30,000 |
| Chef pâtissier (CDP equivalent) | £30,000–£40,000 |
| Head pastry chef | £45,000–£75,000 |
What about service charge and tronc?
In the UK, the Tipping Act 2024 requires service charges to be distributed fairly to staff. In a kitchen at a 75-cover restaurant with a 12.5% service charge and an average chef tronc allocation of 35%, a CDP can earn an extra £200–£400/month on top of base. In Cyprus, service charge is uncommon in hotels but can apply at à la carte restaurants — typical chef share €100–€300/month.
Salary by employer type (UK, 2024 indicative)
| Property type | Commis | CDP | Sous | Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastropub | £21K | £27K | £32K | £42K |
| Boutique restaurant | £22K | £30K | £38K | £55K |
| 4-star hotel | £22K | £29K | £37K | £52K |
| 5-star hotel | £24K | £33K | £45K | £75K |
| Michelin-starred | £24K | £32K | £45K | £85K+ |
| Hotel chain (Premier, IHG Express) | £21K | £26K | £33K | £45K |
| Banqueting / contract catering | £21K | £27K | £34K | £48K |
Cyprus-specific notes
- Seasonality: Many Cyprus resort kitchens (Paphos, Ayia Napa, Paralimni) offer 7–8 month seasonal contracts April–October at full-season pay, with 4–5 months unpaid off. Annualised, this can compete with full-year UK contracts when accommodation and meal value is included.
- Visa-sponsored hires: Non-EU chefs (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Philippines) are commonly hired by Cyprus hospitality. Salary band is typically at the lower end of the Cyprus range plus full board and accommodation. See the Cyprus Work Permit guide.
- Year-round Limassol: Limassol's 5-star hotels (Parklane, Four Seasons, Amara, Le Méridien) run year-round and pay at the top of the Cyprus chef bands.
What to do next
- Anchor your salary expectation in the published band for your rank and property class.
- Don't negotiate base alone — price the in-kind value of accommodation, meals and bonus.
- Looking for a chef role? Browse chef jobs in Cyprus →.
- For the career-path explainer, see How to Become a Chef and Demi Chef de Partie.
Data sources: UK ONS ASHE 2024 (SOC 5434), Eurostat Earnings in Accommodation and Food Services 2024, Cyprus Statistical Service Labour Force Survey 2024, CY Recruitment 2024 annual hospitality salary survey, industry-published bands.