The average chef salary in Canada is $45,000-$75,000 per year. This guide breaks down chef and cook pay by province, establishment type, and experience level.
Chef Salary by Province
Province
Line Cook
Sous Chef
Executive Chef
Ontario
$38,000
$55,000
$80,000
British Columbia
$40,000
$58,000
$85,000
Alberta
$42,000
$60,000
$88,000
Quebec
$36,000
$52,000
$75,000
Saskatchewan
$38,000
$52,000
$72,000
Manitoba
$36,000
$50,000
$70,000
Nova Scotia
$34,000
$48,000
$68,000
New Brunswick
$32,000
$45,000
$65,000
Newfoundland
$35,000
$48,000
$68,000
PEI
$32,000
$44,000
$62,000
Territories
$48,000+
$65,000
$95,000
Salary by Position
Position
Salary Range
Hourly
Prep Cook
$30,000-$38,000
$14-$18
Line Cook
$35,000-$45,000
$17-$22
Station Chef (Chef de Partie)
$42,000-$55,000
$20-$26
Sous Chef
$50,000-$70,000
$24-$34
Head Chef (Chef de Cuisine)
$60,000-$85,000
$29-$41
Executive Chef
$70,000-$120,000
Salary
Corporate Executive Chef
$90,000-$150,000
Salary
Salary by Establishment Type
Establishment
Chef Salary Range
Fast Food/Quick Service
$32,000-$42,000
Casual Dining
$38,000-$55,000
Fine Dining
$50,000-$90,000
Hotel/Resort
$55,000-$100,000
Private Club/Country Club
$60,000-$95,000
Catering
$45,000-$75,000
Hospital/Institutional
$50,000-$70,000
Private Chef
$60,000-$120,000
Cruise Ship
$45,000-$80,000
Salary by Experience
Experience
Salary Range
Entry Level (0-2 years)
$32,000-$40,000
Intermediate (2-5 years)
$40,000-$55,000
Experienced (5-10 years)
$55,000-$75,000
Senior (10+ years)
$70,000-$100,000+
Take-Home Pay (Ontario Example)
Gross Salary
Annual Take-Home
Monthly Net
$45,000
$36,500
$3,040
$60,000
$46,500
$3,875
$80,000
$60,500
$5,040
Tips & Additional Income
Position
Tips Potential
Line Cook
$0-$2,000/year (tip pool)
Sous Chef
$2,000-$5,000/year
Executive Chef
$0 (salaried)
Private Chef
$5,000-$15,000/year
Work Hours & Overtime
Factor
Details
Typical Hours
50-60 hours/week
Split Shifts
Common in restaurants
Weekends/Holidays
Expected
Overtime Pay
Often exempt (salaried)
Benefits
Varies widely
Career Path Timeline
Milestone
Timeline
Typical Salary
Culinary School
1-2 years
-$20,000 (cost)
Entry Cook
Year 1
$35,000
Line Cook
Years 2-4
$42,000
Sous Chef
Years 5-8
$58,000
Executive Chef
Years 10+
$85,000
Private Chef Income
Private chefs for wealthy families or celebrities earn premium rates:
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