Household staff careers
Private Chef Jobs
A private chef cooks for one family: daily meals, special diets, dinner parties and travel. Browse private chef, household chef and sous chef jobs from private families and domestic staffing agencies.
Open private chef jobs
New roles from private families and domestic staffing agencies. Click a job to see the full description and apply.
What does a private chef do?
A private (or household) chef works for one family and plans everything around them: their tastes, allergies, health goals and schedule. A typical day includes planning menus, shopping for the best ingredients, cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner, preparing healthy snacks, and keeping the kitchen spotless and organized.
A personal chef is different: they usually cook for several clients, often preparing meals ahead. A private chef works for one household, often full-time, and may travel with the family to other homes or on a yacht. In smaller homes, a housekeeper/cook handles simple family meals.
Typical duties
- Plan weekly menus around the family’s preferences
- Cook for special diets and allergies
- Source and shop for ingredients
- Prepare meals for children and staff in some homes
- Cook for dinner parties and events
- Keep the kitchen, pantry and fridge organized
- Track the food budget and receipts
- Travel with the family in some roles
How much do private chefs make?
Full-time private chefs are usually paid an annual salary, while part-time and event chefs are paid by the day or event. Pay depends on culinary training, fine-dining experience, the number of people and meals each day, live-in or travel requirements and the city.
Current private chef and sous chef jobs on Jobinary include roles in Brentwood, CA and Miami, FL; open each job to see its pay and schedule. See the household staff pay guide for other roles.
Skills employers look for
- Culinary school or fine-dining restaurant experience
- Range across cuisines and healthy cooking
- Experience with allergies and special diets
- Food safety and an immaculate kitchen
- Menu planning and budgeting
- Discretion and flexibility with schedules
- Some roles: travel, yacht or event experience
Common setups: full-time live-out, live-in, part-time, rotational, seasonal homes, and travel or yacht chef positions.
Hiring a private chef?
Reach experienced private and household chefs directly, with no placement fee. Your first job post is free.
Looking for private chef jobs?
Create a free profile with your experience, cuisines and the cities you want to work in. Get new chef jobs by email.
Private chef jobs: common questions
What is the difference between a private chef and a personal chef?
A private chef works for one household, often full-time. A personal chef usually serves several clients, cooking meals in advance or for occasional events.
Do private chefs need culinary school?
Not always, but most families look for culinary training or several years in fine-dining kitchens, plus references from private homes.
Do private chefs live in?
Some do, especially on large estates or when the family travels between homes. Many private chef jobs in Los Angeles are live-out.
How much does it cost to post a private chef job?
Your first job post is free. After that, a single job post is $49, and agencies can buy discounted multi-post packs. There is no placement fee and no percentage of salary.
