National Occupational Classification (NOC): 62200
Fast Facts
- Average Pay: N/A
- Future Growth: N/A
- Skill Level: N/A
- Employment Size: N/A
- Unemployment: N/A
- Full-time Share: N/A
Sample Job Titles
- Chef
- Corporate chef
- Executive chef
- Executive sous-chef
- Head chef
- Master chef
- Pastry chef
- Saucier
- Sous-chef
- Specialist chef
What do chefs do?
Chefs plan and direct food preparation and cooking activities and prepare and cook meals and specialty foods. They are employed in restaurants, hotels, hospitals and other health care institutions, central food commissaries, clubs and similar establishments, and on ships.
Chefs perform some or all of the following duties:
- Plan and direct food preparation and cooking activities of several restaurants in an establishment, restaurant chains, hospitals or other establishments with food services.
- Consult with clients regarding weddings, banquets and specialty functions.
- Plan menus and ensure food meets quality standards.
- Estimate food requirements and may estimate food and labour costs.
- Supervise activities of sous-chefs, specialist chefs, chefs and cooks.
- Arrange for equipment purchases and repairs.
- Recruit and hire staff.
- May prepare and cook food on a regular basis, or for special guests or functions.
Sous-chefs perform some or all of the following duties:
- Supervise activities of specialist chefs, chefs, cooks and other kitchen workers.
- Demonstrate new cooking techniques and new equipment to cooking staff.
- May plan menus and requisition food and kitchen supplies.
- May prepare and cook meals or specialty foods.
Chefs and specialist chefs perform some or all of the following duties:
- Prepare and cook complete meals or specialty foods, such as pastries, sauces, soups, salads, vegetables and meat, poultry and fish dishes, and create decorative food displays for special events such as banquets.
- Instruct cooks in preparation, cooking, garnishing and presentation of food.
- Create new recipes.
- Supervise cooks and other kitchen staff.
- May plan menus.
- May requisition food and kitchen supplies.
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
Chefs primarily work in the following subsectors (NAICS) in Newfoundland and Labrador:
- 722 Food services and drinking places
- 721 Accommodation services
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada.
Short and Long Term Occupational Projections
Short Term Projections for 2023-2025
The employment outlook will be moderate for chefs in Newfoundland and Labrador (rating of 3 out of 5) for the 2023-2025 period.
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Long Term Projections for 2023-2032
Chefs belong to the broader occupational group 62200, 63200 (Chefs and cooks). This group is forecast to be balanced (rating of 1.9 out of 4) over the next several years, meaning projected labour supply is expected to meet forecasted job openings.
Source: Department of Finance, Occupation Projections (Summer 2023)
Number of Job Postings in 2023
During 2023, there were 73 public job postings for this occupation, with the following distribution:
| Avalon: 68% | Western: 8% |
| Eastern: 7% | Labrador: 10% |
| Central: 5% | NL-unspecified: 1% |
Source: Lightcast (note: data used in this analysis reflects new unique monthly postings which are totaled for the calendar year).
Who works as chefs in Newfoundland and Labrador?
During the reference week of May 2021, there were approximately 375 people working in this occupation in Newfoundland and Labrador. 73% of those employed were Male+ and 25% of those employed were Female+.
Here is the age group breakdown for this group of workers:
| 15 to 24 | 25 to 54 | 55 to 64 | 65+ |
| 9% | 81% | 7% | 0% |
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada.
How much do chefs make?
Annual Earnings
The median employment income for all chefs in the reference year 2020 (480 workers in total, including those working part-time and full-time, as well as part-year and full-year) was $27,200.
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada.
Hourly Earnings
Salary information for chefs in Newfoundland and Labrador is as follows:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $15.00 | $20.19 | $30.00 |
The following low, median, and high wages are for Canada:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) |
| $15.00 | $20.00 | $28.85 |
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Most Frequently Sought Skills from Job Postings (2023)
- Cooking
- Restaurant Operation
- Food Safety And Sanitation
- Food Plating And Presentation
- Food Preparation
- Food Quality Assurance And Control
- Menu Planning
- Kitchen Management
- Food Services
- Culinary Arts
Source: Lightcast
What training is required?
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Cook’s trade certification or equivalent credentials, training and experience are required.
- Executive chefs usually require management training and several years of experience in commercial food preparation, including two years in a supervisory capacity
and
Experience as a sous-chef, specialist chef or chef. - Sous-chefs, specialist chefs and chefs usually require several years of experience in commercial food preparation.
- Red Seal endorsement for cooks is also available to qualified chefs upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
- The certifications of Certified Working Chef (CWC) and Certified Chef de Cuisine (CCC), administered by the Canadian Culinary Institute (CCI) of the Canadian Culinary Federation (CCF) are available to qualified chefs.
- The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
- There is some mobility among the various types of chefs in this unit group.
- Executive chefs may progress to managerial positions in food preparation establishments.
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
* Find public and private education, training and skills development opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador here.