Chef Salary UK 2025 | Take-Home Pay Calculator
Calculate your take-home pay at every level of the kitchen brigade — from commis chef to executive chef. Includes tronc tips, antisocial hours pay, London vs outside London, and Michelin star premiums. Updated for 2025/26 tax year.
Chef Take-Home Pay Calculator 2025
UK Chef Salary by Brigade Level 2025
| Role / Level | Typical Salary | Monthly Take-Home* | Annual Take-Home* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen Porter | £18,000-£21,000 | £1,400-£1,640 | £16,800-£19,680 |
| Commis Chef | £18,000-£22,000 | £1,400-£1,710 | £16,800-£20,520 |
| Chef de Partie | £22,000-£28,000 | £1,710-£1,972 | £20,520-£23,664 |
| Sous Chef | £28,000-£35,000 | £1,972-£2,322 | £23,664-£27,861 |
| Head Chef | £35,000-£55,000 | £2,322-£3,325 | £27,861-£39,905 |
| Head Chef (Michelin) | £50,000-£80,000 | £3,102-£4,416 | £37,224-£52,990 |
| Executive Chef | £55,000-£100,000+ | £3,325-£5,283 | £39,905-£63,400 |
| Freelance Sous Chef (£200/day) | ~£40,000 gross | ~£2,400 | ~£28,800 |
*Based on 2025/26 tax rates, personal allowance £12,570, no pension, student loan, or tronc. Freelance assumes 200 working days, £4,000 expenses. Figures approximate.
London vs Outside London: Chef Salary Comparison 2025
| Role | London Salary | National Average | London Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commis Chef | £22,000-£26,000 | £18,000-£22,000 | +22% |
| Chef de Partie | £26,000-£33,000 | £22,000-£28,000 | +18-20% |
| Sous Chef | £33,000-£42,000 | £28,000-£35,000 | +18-25% |
| Head Chef | £45,000-£65,000 | £35,000-£55,000 | +18-30% |
| Executive Chef | £70,000-£150,000+ | £55,000-£100,000+ | +20-50% |
Chef Salaries in the UK in 2025
The UK hospitality industry employs hundreds of thousands of chefs across restaurants, hotels, contract catering, healthcare, education, and private households. Pay varies enormously by sector, location, establishment type, and kitchen brigade level. In 2025, despite ongoing recruitment challenges and post-pandemic recovery, chef salaries have risen across all levels as employers compete for skilled kitchen staff in a tight labour market.
The kitchen brigade system, based on Auguste Escoffier's classical brigade de cuisine, defines clear career progression from kitchen porter and commis chef through chef de partie, sous chef, head chef, and executive chef. Each step brings both increased responsibility and higher pay. Understanding where your role sits in this hierarchy — and what take-home pay you can realistically expect — is essential for career planning and negotiation.
Tips, Tronc, and the New Tipping Law
From 1 October 2024, the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 came into full force, requiring employers to pass 100% of tips, gratuities, and service charges to workers without deduction. Employers are also required to have a written tips policy and to keep records of tip allocation for three years. Workers can request a breakdown of how tips are allocated.
For chefs, tips and tronc can add a significant amount to annual earnings. In a busy city-centre restaurant, kitchen staff might receive £2,000 to £6,000 per year through tronc. In prestigious hotels and fine dining establishments, this can be £5,000 to £15,000 or more. The tax treatment depends on how tips are paid: tips distributed via an independent troncmaster are typically subject to income tax but not National Insurance for the employee. Tips paid by the employer through payroll are subject to both income tax and NI.
Antisocial Hours and Overtime Pay for Chefs
Chefs routinely work evenings, weekends, and bank holidays. Many employment contracts in the hospitality sector include a basic salary plus an expectation of unsociable hours. The legal position is that workers must receive at least the National Minimum Wage for all hours worked, including overtime. Beyond the NMW floor, unsociable hours supplements and overtime rates are not legally mandated but are increasingly common as employers compete for talent. Some larger hospitality groups pay time and a quarter or time and a half for confirmed overtime. Chefs working on bank holidays may receive double time or a day off in lieu.
Career Progression in the Kitchen
Career progression in the kitchen is typically driven by demonstrated ability, culinary knowledge, and the ability to manage a section or, at senior levels, the entire kitchen operation. A commis chef with talent and drive can progress to chef de partie within two to three years. Progression from chef de partie to sous chef typically takes another two to four years and requires demonstrated leadership alongside technical skills. The head chef role, which carries full responsibility for menu development, food costs, ordering, and team management, usually requires a minimum of eight to ten years of experience in top establishments.
Working in Michelin-starred restaurants provides exceptional training and career acceleration. Chefs with Michelin experience typically command salaries 15 to 40 per cent above peers from non-starred establishments at equivalent career stages. The exposure to high-level techniques, produce, and professional standards makes Michelin veterans highly sought-after across the industry.
Freelance and Contract Chefs
The freelance or agency chef market has grown significantly since the pandemic. Agencies such as Blue Arrow, Cater, and The Caterer provide temporary staffing solutions for hotels, restaurants, and events caterers. Freelance chefs working through agencies typically earn day rates of £120 to £350, depending on their level and the nature of the booking. While the gross earnings can exceed employed equivalents, freelance chefs must account for periods without work, agency fees (sometimes deducted from rates), the cost of their own equipment, and the absence of employer pension contributions and paid leave.
Frequently Asked Questions: Chef Salary UK 2025
What is the average chef salary in the UK in 2025?
Chef salaries vary widely by level: Commis chefs earn £18,000-£22,000; Chef de partie £22,000-£28,000; Sous chef £28,000-£35,000; Head chef £35,000-£55,000; Executive chef £55,000-£100,000+. London pays 20-30% more. Tips and tronc can add £2,000-£15,000 per year at premium establishments.
How is tronc and tips income taxed for chefs?
From October 2024, the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 requires 100% of tips to pass to workers. Tips through an independent tronc are taxed as income but typically not subject to NI. Tips through employer-controlled payroll attract both income tax and NI. HMRC's guidance should be consulted for your specific arrangement. Tronc income is reportable on self-assessment if not already taxed through PAYE.
What is the take-home pay for a head chef earning £45,000?
A head chef earning £45,000 in 2025/26 pays income tax of approximately £6,486 and NI of approximately £2,594. Annual take-home is approximately £35,920 (£2,993/month, £691/week). A 5% pension contribution of £2,250 reduces taxable income to £42,750 and lowers tax and NI by approximately £700, improving effective take-home efficiency.
Do London chefs earn significantly more than elsewhere?
Yes. London chefs typically earn 20-30% more than equivalents nationally. A sous chef earning £30,000 nationally might earn £35,000-£40,000 in London. Executive chefs at top London hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants earn £80,000-£150,000+. However, London's higher cost of living, especially housing, reduces the real-terms advantage for lower-earning kitchen staff.
Do chefs receive overtime and antisocial hours pay?
There is no statutory requirement to pay above the National Minimum Wage for overtime or antisocial hours, but many employers do so to attract and retain talent. Common arrangements include: time and a quarter for regular overtime, time and a half for confirmed overtime, double time for bank holidays, and a day off in lieu for bank holiday work. The hospitality industry's high turnover has pushed employers to improve overtime practices. Some large groups pay a fixed unsociable hours supplement of 10-20% of base salary.
How much does a Michelin star premium add to a chef's salary?
Working in a Michelin-starred restaurant typically adds 15-40% to a chef's salary versus equivalent non-starred establishments. A chef de partie earning £25,000 nationally might earn £28,000-£35,000 at a one-star restaurant. Two and three-star restaurants pay even more. Beyond salary, the Michelin experience delivers exceptional career advancement and long-term earning potential that far exceeds any initial salary premium.
What benefits do employed chefs typically receive?
Employed chefs typically receive: 28 days paid holiday (including bank holidays), auto-enrolled pension with employer contribution of at least 3%, staff meals during shifts (worth £1,000-£2,500/year), discounted dining, chef whites/uniform provision, and access to training and development programmes. Five-star hotels and large restaurant groups often add private health insurance, life assurance, and annual bonus schemes. These benefits are worth approximately £3,000-£8,000/year in equivalent cash value.