Chef
Trained professional in charge of the kitchen, expert in all aspects of food preparation and often focused on one cuisine.
Overview
A Chef is a trained professional in charge of the kitchen in restaurants or other places where food is served. He or she is an expert in all aspects of food preparation, often focusing on a particular cuisine.
Where they work
- Restaurants
- Catering services
- Premier hotels
- Resorts
- Schools and hospitals among others
Work environment
You will handle a team of cooks and kitchen helpers. You are likely to work 5 to 6 days a week, 10 to 12 hours every day. Entrepreneurship: you can start your own business.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You like to cook
- You like to do experiments
- You pay attention to details
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10+2 in any stream.
- 2Complete a Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts/Hotel Management (BHM)/Catering Technology and Culinary Arts (BCTCA) or a related subject.
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete a Bachelor's in Culinary Arts/Hotel Management (BHM)/Catering Technology and Culinary Arts (BCTCA) or a related subject, followed by an MBA in Hotel Management.
Forms, exams and applications
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
This course is offered by the Hotel Management Institutes. This list of institutes is indicative only. Please check if a private institute is affiliated and accredited with UGC and AICTE before applying.
Government institutes
- Institute of Hotel Management, Goa
- Institute of Hotel Management, New Delhi
- Institute of Hotel Management, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Institute of Hotel Management, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Institute of Hotel Management, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Institute of Hotel Management, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
- Institute of Hotel Management, Hyderabad, Telangana
- Institute of Hotel Management, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Institute of Hotel Management, Aurangabad, Maharashtra
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Manipal, Karnataka
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka
- Guru Nanak Institute of Hotel Management, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune, Maharashtra
- International Institute of Hotel Management, Bengaluru, Karnataka
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Kitchen Helper
- 2Commis Chef
- 3Line Cook/Chef of Party
- 4Sous Chef
- 5Executive Chef
Expected income
₹20,000 – ₹1,25,000 per month or more
The figures are indicative and subject to change.
SourceRelated careers to explore
Pastry Chef
Makes cakes, pastries, cookies, cupcakes, pies, confectionery, desserts, bread and other baked goods, learning ingredients and a range of cooking methods.
Trainee Chef/Assistant Cook
Prepares, cooks and maintains the kitchen under the direction of senior chefs — fuel, cleanliness, supply, stock and provisioning.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Any Stream.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to creating.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Garima Arora — Head of the restaurant Gaa in Bangkok, she has made history as the first Indian woman to win a Michelin star. Born and raised in Mumbai, she graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris in 2010, where she did a Grand Diploma in Cuisine and Patisserie.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 2, printed page 893 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://in.talent.com/salary?job=chef
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
'Welcome Graduate School of Hotel Administration' is corrected to Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, and the state of the Thiruvananthapuram institute is printed as 'Keral'.
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.