Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 78'000 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 78'000 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 84'333 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 78'000 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 85'000 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 87'525 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsHospitality & Hotels
Sous-Chef/Sous-Cheffe
You lead the kitchen team and support the head chef in organising.
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
As deputy head chef, you coordinate the kitchen, train apprentices and handle administrative tasks in the restaurant business.
You are at the heart of the hotel and restaurant industry. As Sous-Chef/Sous-Cheffe, you take responsibility for a smooth kitchen routine. You lead the kitchen team, coordinate the preparation of dishes and train apprentices. You also support the head chef with planning, purchasing and staff management. This role combines practical cooking skills with clear leadership and organisational talent.
FieldHospitality & Hotels
Education pathSpecialisation / Professional Function
IndustryHospitality, Housekeeping & Facility Management
Swissdoc 0.220.42.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Strong salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Gastgeber. Based on 536 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
-4% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 88'400 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 82'100 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 81'250 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 84'716 |
Top earning cantons
View as table
| Canton | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Basel-Land | CHF 90'400 | 16 |
| Zurich | CHF 86'475 | 154 |
| Grisons | CHF 85'696 | 14 |
| Zug | CHF 85'293 | 14 |
| St. Gallen | CHF 84'600 | 32 |
| Schwyz | CHF 81'900 | 15 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Public administration / Associations | CHF 104'500 | 6 |
| Health care / Social services | CHF 92'150 | 42 |
| Service sector in general | CHF 87'000 | 8 |
| Catering / Hotel | CHF 83'160 | 387 |
| Retail trade / Wholesaling | CHF 75'600 | 13 |
| Tourism / Travel / Recreation | CHF 74'100 | 13 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
Swiss training pathway available in the full profile
- 🎓 Sous-Chef/Sous-Cheffe
Official education path
You enter this role after completing a chef apprenticeship and gaining several years of experience as a chef de partie.
Typical training path
Sous-Chef/Sous-Cheffe
Prerequisites
- Abgeschlossene berufliche Grundbildung als Koch/Köchin EFZ
- Mehrjährige Berufserfahrung als Chef/Cheffe de Partie
Requirements
- Social and leadership skills
- Guest and service orientation
- Planning and organisational talent
- Hygiene awareness
- Business administration knowledge
Where this can lead
Career changers can enter this role if you have proven leadership experience and industry-standard qualifications.
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Leadership skills
- Organisational talent
- Hygiene awareness
- Social skills
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You are in the kitchen early in the morning and assign workstations to the cooks. During service, you check the quality of the dishes and coordinate the flow between the pass and the storage room.
- You lead the kitchen team in the daily preparation of meals.
- You clearly assign duties to the chefs de partie and coordinate the stations.
- You train apprentices and guide their practical on-the-job training.
- You support the head chef in planning menus and daily specials.
- You monitor hygiene regulations and ensure a clean working environment.
- You check stock levels and help with ordering food supplies.
Working conditions
You work in restaurants, hotels, catering companies or event kitchens. Your workplace is the professional kitchen, supplemented by offices for administrative tasks.
Strengths
- Leadership skills
- Organisational talent
- Hygiene awareness
- Social skills
Trade-offs
- Physical strain
- Time pressure
- Shift work
- Responsibility pressure
06 · Similar
