Rankings β†’ Will AI Replace…

Will AI Replace Chefs and Head Cooks?

39/100 β€” Moderate
SOC 35-1011

πŸ’‘ Chefs and Head Cooks have a composite risk score of 39/100 (Frey-Osborne probability: 10%, GenAI exposure: 67/100). With 182,320 workers in the US, this occupation faces moderate but manageable AI pressure. Full occupation profile β†’

🎯 The Verdict

Partially. Some tasks will be automated, but the core role will likely adapt and evolve.

With 182,320 workers and a median wage of $61K,chefs and head cooks represent a significant portion of the US workforce. Their GenAI exposure index is 67%, meaning a majority of their core tasks overlap with current generative AI capabilities.

Risk Score

39/100

Employment

182,320

Median Wage

$61K

GenAI Exposure

67%

⚠️ Top Risk Factors

1.

AI inventory management and waste reduction

2.

Self-ordering kiosks and mobile app displacement

3.

AI summarization replacing manual report compilation

πŸ›‘οΈ Tasks AI Can't Easily Replace

βœ“

Hospitality and personalized guest experiences

βœ“

Food presentation requiring artistic and tactile skill

βœ“

Adapting to real-time dietary and allergy requests

βœ“

Creative menu development and flavor innovation

πŸ”„ Career Transition Paths

Related occupations with lower AI risk and high skills overlap:

Advertising, Marketing, Promotions, Public Relations, and Sales Managers

51% skills overlap Β· $145K median wage

16/100

Education Administrators, All Other

61% skills overlap Β· $89K median wage

21/100

Architectural and Engineering Managers

57% skills overlap Β· $168K median wage

23/100

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Will AI completely replace chefs and head cooks?

Partially. Some tasks will be automated, but the core role will likely adapt and evolve.

What is the AI risk score for chefs and head cooks?

Chefs and Head Cooks have a composite AI automation risk score of 39 out of 100, classified as "Moderate".

How many chefs and head cooks are there in the US?

There are approximately 182,320 chefs and head cooks employed in the United States.

What do chefs and head cooks earn?

The median annual wage for chefs and head cooks is $61K.

What skills should chefs and head cooks develop?

Focus on tasks AI can't easily replicate: hospitality and personalized guest experiences, food presentation requiring artistic and tactile skill, adapting to real-time dietary and allergy requests, creative menu development and flavor innovation. These human-centric skills will become more valuable as routine tasks are automated.