What is the single biggest suggestion you would give to someone wanting to get into this career?

“To be a Caterer, you need a solid foundation in classical cooking. You see a lot of restaurant Chefs who are able to transition well to catering, but it’s not simple. You have to serve huge amounts of people at one time, say, 300 people within forty-five minutes. You need to be ready to adapt and it’s crucial to be confident in your basics.”

What’s the #1 mistake people make when trying to get into this career?

“I always tell new people that they should never assume anything. It’s always better to ask whether it be logistics-related, or cooking-related. It might be something as simple or mundane as the best way to open a can without cutting your knuckles open, but it’s always better to ask!”

If you could describe in one word what makes you successful, what would it be?

“Desire. In retrospect, I learned a lot from my mistakes but I always had that love and drive to make it work.”

What is the highest-ranking Chef called?

The highest-ranking Chef on a production is called a Lead Chef or Head Chef.

What is the lowest Chef position?

On a film set, someone wanting to work their way up to Lead Chef might first begin as a Junior Chef. In many cases, though, having a crew of more than one Chef is reserved for substantially large productions.

What are the levels of Chefs?

To eventually attain the title of Lead Chef, you may need to first gain experience via more entry-level positions. In general, the Chef levels begin with Junior Chef then Station Chef then Deputy Chef and finally Head or Lead Chef.

Lead Chef

Expert Sources: Edward Eum

Last updated: Mar 19, 2023

Career Overview

Lead Chefs in television, film and commercials feed the cast and crew breakfast and lunch on production days. As part of the catering team, they feed from 50 to 350 people at any given time.

Alternate Titles

Key Caterer, Catering, Chef Driver, Head Chef

Avg. Salary

$50,000¹

Salary Range

$25K – $69K¹

Table of Contents