Understanding the Sous Chef Salary in the UK

If you are looking to convert an hourly rate into an annual salary for a sous chef role, or simply want to know what the typical sous chef salary looks like across the UK, the most reliable source is the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE). However, ASHE does not publish a specific category for 'sous chef'. Instead, sous chefs are grouped under the broader occupation code for chefs (SOC 5434) or sometimes under cooks. This means we have to work with the data available and apply some common-sense adjustments for seniority and location.

Hourly to Annual Conversion Basics

A quick rule of thumb for converting an hourly wage to an annual salary is:

Annual salary ≈ hourly rate × contracted hours per week × 52 weeks

For example, if a sous chef earns £15.00 per hour and works 40 hours per week, the annual salary would be:

£15.00 × 40 × 52 = £31,200 gross per year.

If the same chef works 37.5 hours per week (common in some hospitality contracts), the annual figure becomes:

£15.00 × 37.5 × 52 = £29,250.

Always check your contract for the exact weekly hours, and remember that overtime, tips, and service charges are not included in this basic conversion. The Hourly to Salary tool on this site can do the maths for you.

What the ONS Data Tells Us About Chef Pay

According to the ONS ASHE 2025 provisional data, the median gross annual earnings for all full-time employees in the UK was £39,039. For chefs specifically, the median is lower because the occupation includes many junior roles. In 2024, the median annual pay for chefs (SOC 5434) was around £25,000–£28,000, but this figure is for all chefs, including commis and line cooks. A sous chef, being second in command in the kitchen, typically earns a premium over this median.

Industry surveys and job advertisements suggest that a typical sous chef salary in the UK ranges from £28,000 to £35,000 per year, with London and the South East commanding higher figures. In high-end restaurants or hotels, sous chefs can earn £35,000–£40,000 or more, especially when including a share of service charge.

Regional and Seniority Differences

Location is a major factor in sous chef pay. The ONS ASHE data shows that median earnings in London are significantly higher than in other regions. For example, median full-time weekly earnings in London were about £920 in 2025, compared to around £700 in the North East. Applying that regional uplift, a sous chef in London might earn £35,000–£40,000, while a similar role in the Midlands or North West might be £28,000–£32,000.

Seniority also matters. An experienced sous chef with several years in fine dining will command a higher salary than a newly promoted sous chef from a chain restaurant. Some establishments also offer a 'London weighting' allowance on top of the base salary.

The National Living Wage Floor

All sous chefs aged 21 and over must be paid at least the National Living Wage (NLW). From April 2025, the NLW is £12.21 per hour. At 40 hours per week, that equates to about £25,396.80 per year. Most sous chefs earn well above this, but it is the legal minimum. For younger sous chefs (18–20), the National Minimum Wage is £10.00 per hour. Apprentice rates apply for those under 19 or in the first year of an apprenticeship.

Overtime, Tips, and Other Pay

ASHE figures are based on basic pay and do not include overtime, tips, or bonuses. In hospitality, tips and service charge can add a significant amount to take-home pay. Some sous chefs receive a share of the tronc, which can boost annual earnings by several thousand pounds. However, this is not guaranteed and varies by employer.

When comparing job offers, always ask whether the quoted salary includes any guaranteed tips or service charge, and whether overtime is paid at a premium rate.

How to Research Sous Chef Salaries Further

For the most accurate and up-to-date figures, consult the ONS ASHE tables for chefs (SOC 5434) on the ONS website. You can also look at job advertisements on hospitality job boards and check industry salary surveys from organisations like the Institute of Hospitality or CGA by NielsenIQ. The salary articles on this site provide more context on UK pay benchmarks.

Remember that the figures discussed here are gross (before tax and National Insurance). Your net take-home pay will depend on your tax code, pension contributions, and any student loan repayments. The salary data section offers further breakdowns by region and occupation.

Summary

While there is no single official 'sous chef salary' figure from the ONS, you can estimate it by looking at chef pay data and adding a seniority premium. A reasonable range for a sous chef in the UK is £28,000–£35,000 per year, with London and fine-dining roles at the higher end. Use the hourly-to-annual conversion formula with your contracted hours to compare offers, and always factor in tips and overtime when evaluating total compensation.

For more guidance on converting hourly rates to annual salaries, visit the Hourly to Salary page.