Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 65'805 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 61'833 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 61'100 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 62'894 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 71'772 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 78'000 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsHospitality & Hotels
Küchenchef/in HFP
Leading hospitality professionals manage the kitchen, team, and budget.
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
You lead kitchen teams, plan menus, and control costs in hotels, hospitals, or institutional catering.
As a Küchenchef/in HFP, you carry the responsibility for smooth operations in large professional kitchens. You monitor food preparation, delegate tasks to the kitchen team, and manage commercial processes simultaneously. From menu development and price calculation to staff management, your focus is on quality, efficiency, and economic success.
FieldHospitality & Hotels
Education pathContinuing Education Profession
IndustryHospitality: Kitchen
Swissdoc 0.220.14.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Exact salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Küchenchefin. Based on 3,586 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
+3% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 70'000 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 68'192 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 67'217 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 72'000 |
Top earning cantons
View as table
| Canton | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Appenzell I. | CHF 136'000 | 17 |
| Glarus | CHF 80'500 | 15 |
| Lucerne | CHF 79'250 | 118 |
| Zug | CHF 79'000 | 53 |
| St. Gallen | CHF 77'000 | 101 |
| Appenzell A. | CHF 75'506 | 16 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Health care / Social services | CHF 85'000 | 203 |
| Commercial operation / Skilled crafts | CHF 79'000 | 6 |
| Retail trade / Wholesaling | CHF 78'650 | 16 |
| Public administration / Associations | CHF 78'077 | 35 |
| Education | CHF 78'068 | 16 |
| Service sector in general | CHF 77'000 | 29 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
Swiss training pathway available in the full profile
- 🎓 Küchenchef/in mit eidg. Diplom
- ⏱ 1,5 Jahre, berufsbegleitend
Official education path
The advanced training lasts 1.5 years in a part-time format and prepares you for the federal exam.
Typical training path
Küchenchef/in mit eidg. Diplom
Prerequisites
- Abschluss der Berufsprüfung als Chefkoch/-köchin, Gastronomiekoch/-köchin, Koch/Köchin der Spital-, Heim und Gemeinschaftsgastronomie or an equivalent certificate
- 3 years of professional experience in a senior or leadership role since completion of the Berufsprüfung
- Module completions or equivalency certificates
Requirements
- Networked thinking and action
- Ability to lead staff and work in a team
- Stress resistance
- Organisational and planning skills
- Flair for numbers
Where this can lead
Career changers can enter the field if you have completed a basic gastronomy qualification and can prove leadership experience.
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Strong leadership
- Economic thinking
- High stress resistance
- Good organizational skills
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You manage the kitchen control desk and check the first courses, while the kitchen team works under your supervision. At the same time, you record current material costs and adjust the next shift schedule.
- You monitor the preparation of all dishes and ensure high quality standards.
- You delegate work orders to the sous-chefs and coordinate the entire kitchen team.
- You develop seasonal menus and integrate current culinary trends into the offering.
- You negotiate prices with suppliers and monitor daily material consumption.
- You create budget plans and calculate the profitability of individual menus.
- You train staff on hygiene standards and accident prevention measures.
Working conditions
You work in the professional kitchens of hotels, restaurants, hospitals, care homes, or institutional catering. Depending on the employer, you plan your working hours flexibly and adapt to changing shift models.
Where to learn
- Hotel & Gastro formation Eichistrasse 20Postfach 362, 6353 Weggis
- Schweizer Kochverband Hotel & Gastro Union Adligenswilerstrasse 29/226006 Luzern
Strengths
- Strong leadership
- Economic thinking
- High stress resistance
- Good organizational skills
Trade-offs
- Shift work
- High responsibility
- Physical strain
- Economic pressure
06 · Similar
