A chef is a highly trained and skilled professional cook who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation of a particular cuisine. The word "chef" is derived from the term chef de cuisine, the director or head of a kitchen.
Average Salary. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the mean annual wage for chefs working in the United States as of May 2011 was $46,600. The top 10 percent of earners made $74,060 or more, while the lowest 10 percent made $24,770 or less.