How much does a chef make?

It depends on the country. Examples from this dataset: 1 530 000 kr in Norway; CHF 103'000 in Switzerland; € 105.000 in Belgium, and more.

Which country pays chefs the most?

Of 40 covered countries, Norway leads on an FX-adjusted view at about 1 530 000 kr per year ($163,775).

Which country pays chefs the least?

Among covered countries, Philippines is on the lower end at about ₱744,000 per year (local currency).

Is chef a growing career?

Employment for this occupation is projected at about +5% over the next decade — a global sketch, not a country forecast.

Skilled Trades

Chef Salary by Country

Covered in 40 countries, with Norway leading on an FX-adjusted view. Choose a country for local-currency city breakdowns.

Countries covered

10-yr outlook

+5%

projected growth

Chef pay worldwide: Norway leads a wide FX-adjusted spread

Chef is covered in 40 countries. On an FX-adjusted USD view, Norway leads near $163,775 (1 530 000 kr local) while Philippines sits near $11,915 (₱744,000 local) — about 13.7×.

Chefs plan menus, prepare food, and lead kitchen teams. Common screening skills include Cooking, Menu design, Leadership, and Food safety.

Local-currency tables below are what employers quote; the USD sort is only for cross-border orientation. Tax, public healthcare, and hours differ enough that a higher USD median is not automatically a better life. Outlook for the occupation is sketched at +5% over ten years — not country-specific hiring.

After Norway, Switzerland is next on the USD ranking at about $127,376. Related skilled trades titles include Electrician, Plumber, Carpenter, Welder, and HVAC Technician. Pick a country page next for city bands; pick a city salary page when you have a metro.

Do not rank countries by cash alone for immigration decisions — licensing and visas are independent of this table. Use each country’s salary calculator assumptions separately; a single global “take-home” does not exist.

How to compare Chef pay across countries

Convert only for shortlisting, then switch back to local currency for offers. A remote employer paying “US median” while you live elsewhere is a different problem from relocating into Norway.

Skills commonly listed: Cooking, Menu design, Leadership, Food safety, and Speed. Requirements still change by country and seniority.

What the top of this Chef list is telling you

Norway leads on this FX-adjusted snapshot at 1 530 000 kr ($163,775). That usually pairs with high prices, selective immigration, or both — open the Norway chef page before treating the rank as a plan.

Chef salary by country

Country	Per year	Per month
United States	$67,600	$5,600
United Kingdom	$103,202	$8,668
Canada	$94,496	$7,863
Australia	$118,923	$9,886
Germany	$111,330	$9,287
France	$102,624	$8,591
Netherlands	$120,734	$10,100
Switzerland	$127,376	$10,635
Singapore	$116,376	$9,672
India	$14,811	$1,234
Japan	$71,908	$5,992
South Korea	$87,890	$7,324
Poland	$80,439	$6,703
Brazil	$32,243	$2,684
United Arab Emirates	$66,167	$5,528
Mexico	$37,395	$3,116
Ireland	$103,088	$8,591
Spain	$79,522	$6,617
Italy	$78,012	$6,501
Sweden	$103,333	$8,611
Norway	$163,775	$13,648
Denmark	$111,836	$9,322
Belgium	$121,894	$10,216
Austria	$101,579	$8,475
Portugal	$58,509	$4,876
Finland	$93,569	$7,778
China	$56,412	$4,706
Hong Kong	$78,839	$6,570
New Zealand	$75,747	$6,332
Indonesia	$13,003	$1,084
Philippines	$11,915	$993
Vietnam	$13,401	$1,117
Thailand	$27,199	$2,268
Malaysia	$42,213	$3,526
Israel	$91,320	$7,627
Saudi Arabia	$48,000	$4,000
Turkey	$32,936	$2,745
Argentina	$13,647	$1,137
Colombia	$25,274	$2,106
South Africa	$24,945	$2,079

Source figures are in each country’s local currency; amounts above convert to your display currency.

Showing amounts in USD (USD default). FX as of Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:02:31 +0000. Convert currencies

Required skills

CookingMenu designLeadershipFood safetySpeed

Related Skilled Trades jobs

Electrician Plumber Carpenter Welder HVAC Technician

Frequently asked questions

How much does a chef make?: It depends on the country. Examples from this dataset: 1 530 000 kr in Norway; CHF 103'000 in Switzerland; € 105.000 in Belgium, and more.
Which country pays chefs the most?: Of 40 covered countries, Norway leads on an FX-adjusted view at about 1 530 000 kr per year ($163,775).
Which country pays chefs the least?: Among covered countries, Philippines is on the lower end at about ₱744,000 per year (local currency).
Is chef a growing career?: Employment for this occupation is projected at about +5% over the next decade — a global sketch, not a country forecast.
What skills do chefs need?: Common skills include Cooking, Menu design, Leadership, Food safety, and Speed. Requirements vary by country, employer, and seniority.
What other skilled trades jobs are similar?: Related roles include Electrician, Plumber, Carpenter, Welder, and HVAC Technician. Compare pay on each job page.