10 Highest Paying Countries for Chefs

Being a chef, you must have wondered which are the 10 highest paying countries for chefs in the world.

Everybody around you is enjoying your specialties? Friends and customers say your skills are superb, and you feel pretty self-satisfied yourself. But every once in a while when the going gets tough, it crosses your mind whether you could be earning more in another restaurant, or, say, in another country perhaps? Well, in that case, we may just have the answer for you.

To find the 10 highest paying countries for chefs we have started with the Business Insider‘s list of the richest countries in the world, i.e. with the highest GDP per capita. That seemed a good start since the income is bound to be high and considering the fact that all of them are highly developed countries, the costs of living are approximately the same. Also, we bore in mind that some prospective employees have different goals, such as permanent living or just working in a country until you feel you’ve earned enough to fulfill another ambition. Therefore, we focused on the hard cash in US dollars as our main criterion and your motive.

In order to provide you with the best possible answer we have researched the wealthiest and most popular countries for chefs. The data we collected comes from various websites since at the moment there isn’t a unique website providing information about the salaries for all occupations in all the richest countries, so we conducted thorough research via Salary,  Glassdoor   Salary Expert,  Payscale  and Lohncomputer. The information provided is either official data for the country, or it comes first-hand from people who are already in the profession and their reports. We kept our investigation meticulous, as always.

Before we take you on your trip around the world, let us clear the air by defining your profession. Above all, in this article the term “chef” means an executive chef, a.k.a. the boss. Chef de cuisine is responsible for hiring and supervising other cooks as well as preparing luscious meals. The countries were chosen according to the executive chef average salary, not the highest one possible a single person may earn in a year (e.g. in luxurious hotels, since that solely deserves another article). If you have such ambitions, perhaps it would be advisable to check out Jamie Oliver’s career in 4 Business Strategies that Turned Jamie Oliver into the World’s Richest Chef and find out how to become the richest chef in the world by doing other things apart from cooking and management. Now, if you wish to find out how much a CEO of the kitchen may earn in a year, feel free to continue reading 10 highest paying countries for chefs.

10. Norway

Yes, it is cold most of the year, but the money you earn will be more than enough to pay the heating bills. An average chef earns $38,484 a year, and if you’re really good, you might earn as much as $45,275. But if that doesn’t satisfy your appetite and you desire a warmer climate, visit their practically next-door neighbor.

9. Denmark

The temperatures are higher, and so will be your salary – $43,270 per year. Danish Blue Cheese is most certainly to appeal to your palate. And there’s no better place to have the world renowned Danish for breakfast but in Denmark itself. Plus, you will definitely enjoy your life there if you go to these best places to see in Denmark.

8. Ireland

If you move to this country, you can have the best beer for your recipes, and the salary isn’t bad either. $45,965 annually is what puts Ireland on this list, far ahead of some countries which have become synonyms for luxury, such as the United Arab Emirates.

7. Luxembourg

A teeny tiny European country, but according to Salary Expert you’ll be earning $48,083 a year which should be tempting enough to travel there. It is in the very top of the countries with the highest minimal wages, so it’s no surprise Luxembourg is on the list of 10 highest paying countries for chefs.

6. USA

Yes, it is the USA that is in place number six when it comes to highest paying countries for chefs. Uncle Sam will offer you a great average yearly income of $63,324, and if you are talented and diligent, the sky is the limit. This is indeed a land of opportunities. The average salary may be such, but if you focus on upscale dining, you could end up with a salary of $101,000 in Ritz-Carlton. Or you could send the CV to Black Angus Steakhouse, if you are still insatiable.

5. Singapore

One of the richest countries in the world can also make you rich. An average chef earns $63,578. While you are there, you could try and join the Singapore Chefs Association. There are always a lot of jobs offers on the market, so you should have no problem finding something suitable.

4. Canada

It gets colder the closer we get to the top. Even though you’ve never heard of Canadian cuisine, they do value a good chef. Your salary would be $65,000 a year. The winters are cold, but the people are warm and friendly. The country has become really popular in the recent years among people looking for this position. Obviously, it’s for a good reason.

3. Iceland

This country that ranks third on our list of highest paying countries for chefs gets the bronze medal. The salary is almost double the Norwegian one – it’s $70,000. So if you don’t mind the cold, perhaps this is even a better option. However, you should definitely do some research on the locals’ diet by checking out the Guide to Iceland. If you’re already proficient at cooking sheep’s head, you’ll have no problems. Of course, seafood is always on the menu, such as smoked fish.

2. Switzerland

Everybody wants to learn how to cook there, and apparently, to remain. This is where some of the best cooking schools and academies are situated. The average chef salary is 5,608 CHF, but when you multiply it by thirteen and change into USD, it turns out to be $72,904. That’s right, you get thirteen salaries in this country for working 12 months a year. Sounds cool, doesn’t it?

And, finally, the absolute winner:

1. Australia

Go down under, and you will be earning $78,104 a year (yes, American dollars, not Australian). Australia is the absolute champion when it comes to the highest paying countries for chefs. Aussies are famous for their barbecue (Pavlova dessert is ruled out to belong to NZ. Sorry, Aussies, the BBC News says so), but eating out is a huge part of the culture and what is more they are willing to pay a good price for it. Actually, it’s the highest price in the world. What is more, Melbourne has been voted the most liveable city for the sixth year in a row by the Economist. So, if you are keen on drinking eggnog on the beach, this is definitely the place to go!