Food & BeverageCompare

Chef

O*NET: Chefs and Head Cooks·35-1011.00

The Verdict:Chefs direct fast-paced kitchens, hands-on with cooking, tasting, and plating dishes adapted to fresh ingredients and customer tastes. AI streamlines inventory, costing, and scheduling, boosting efficiency without replacing sensory creativity or real-time leadership. Preference for human-crafted meals sustains the role amid labor shortages over the next decade.

Resilience Score

/100

Resilient

Score tiers

Highly Resilient81–100

Resilient61–80

Moderate Risk41–60

High Risk21–40

Critical Risk0–20

How is this scored?

Task Resilience

How much of this role's daily work remains beyond AI and robotic automation.

30% of score

Physical Presence

The degree to which this job needs a human present — hands-on, in the field, or in the room.

20% of score

Human Necessity

How important the unique human edge is — for trust, accountability, or judgment.

15% of score

Regulatory Shield

How strong the legal requirement is for a human in this job (by law, licensing, or credentials).

13% of score

Technological Maturity

How far AI remains from performing this role's core functions.

10% of score

Displacement Evidence

The volume of jobs in this field being eliminated by AI or automation right now.

12% of score

Score last updated: February 2026Full methodology

Avg Salary

Median annual wage from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 release.

$61k

Job Growth (10yr)

Projected change in total number of jobs (not salary) from 2024–2034. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections.

+7.1%

AI Exposure

Percentage of this role's analyzed tasks that AI can handle autonomously or nearly so. 4 of 21 tasks are classified as AI-exposed.

19%

Low exposure

Task Analysis

This role has a mixed AI profile.
4 tasks are automatable, 33% reward AI fluency, and 10 remain human-essential.

4exposed

7AI leverage

10human-essential

View all 21 tasks

AI Can Handle This4 tasks

Tasks AI can do autonomously or nearly so

Order or requisition food or other supplies needed to ensure efficient operation.

Estimate amounts and costs of required supplies, such as food and ingredients.

Analyze recipes to assign prices to menu items, based on food, labor, and overhead costs.

Record production or operational data on specified forms.

AI Leverage7 tasks

Master these tools — humans who do outperform those who don't

Monitor sanitation practices to ensure that employees follow standards and regulations.

Check the quantity and quality of received products.

Coordinate planning, budgeting, or purchasing for all the food operations within establishments such as clubs, hotels, or restaurant chains.

Determine production schedules and staff requirements necessary to ensure timely delivery of services.

Meet with sales representatives to negotiate prices or order supplies.

Arrange for equipment purchases or repairs.

Collaborate with other personnel to plan and develop recipes or menus, taking into account such factors as seasonal availability of ingredients or the likely number of customers.

Human Advantage10 tasks

Tasks requiring trust, presence, or novel judgment

Instruct cooks or other workers in the preparation, cooking, garnishing, or presentation of food.

Supervise or coordinate activities of cooks or workers engaged in food preparation.

Inspect supplies, equipment, or work areas to ensure conformance to established standards.

Check the quality of raw or cooked food products to ensure that standards are met.

Plan, direct, or supervise food preparation or cooking activities of multiple kitchens or restaurants in an establishment such as a restaurant chain, hospital, or hotel.

Determine how food should be presented and create decorative food displays.

Prepare and cook foods of all types, either on a regular basis or for special guests or functions.

Meet with customers to discuss menus for special occasions, such as weddings, parties, or banquets.

Recruit and hire staff, such as cooks and other kitchen workers.

Demonstrate new cooking techniques or equipment to staff.

Resilience Landscape

Chef lands in Stable, Lower Pay

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