Chef salary in United Kingdom
Range, median and percentile breakdown by experience level — updated for 2026.
Mid-level reference · Mid
£40,500
Median salary
By experience level
Percentile breakdown for every level.
£26,000
Median
p25
£22,000
p75
£30,500
p90
£35,000
£40,500
Median
p25
£33,000
p75
£49,000
p90
£58,500
£57,000
Median
p25
£46,000
p75
£73,000
p90
£91,500
£80,500
Median
p25
£63,000
p75
£109,000
p90
£149,000
Salary range by level
Comparison of p25, median and p90 across experience levels.
Salary range by level
Same role across countries
Mid-level median for Chef converted to USD for comparison.
How to earn more as a Chef
Three concrete moves backed by hiring patterns.
Add high-leverage certifications
One or two in-demand certifications can move you a full bracket — especially in cloud, finance and healthcare.
Quantify impact on your CV
Recruiters anchor offers on numbers. Replace vague duties with measurable outcomes.
Target high-paying employers
Top brackets cluster around specific industries and cities. Aim your search there.
Related professions
Other roles in the same category.
Frequently asked questions
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