Does the chef profession have a future? Salary, prospects and opportunities

“Does the chef profession have a future??” is a question that many young people with a passion for cuisine wonder. The answer is that the profession of chef has great potential for development in the future with many open career opportunities. Currently, many young people choose to study culinary profession in Germany with the desire to improve their knowledge and skills, and further develop their career in Europe. If you are still wondering whether the profession of chef has a future, let's join SHD Academy Find out more detailed answers through the article below!

>> Reference:

• Detailed information about German vocational training conditions 2025
• Latest information on German vocational training contracts and things to know
• Studying in Germany after graduating from university and what you need to know

How much does a chef make per month? 

In fact, the salary of a chef is not fixed but depends on many factors such as the size of the restaurant, work experience, job position and business location. In addition, depending on the policy of each unit, in addition to the basic salary, the chef can also receive additional allowances and bonuses, helping to increase the total income significantly. 

In Vietnam, the chef profession brings a fairly stable income. For those new to the profession, the salary usually ranges from 8 to 10 million VND/month. After 1 to 2 years of experience, this number can increase to 12 to 20 million VND/month. Especially, in higher positions such as Head Chef at 5-star hotels and resorts, the salary can reach 50 to 70 million VND/month.

On the other hand, in some countries with developed culinary cultures such as Germany, the US, Australia, Japan, etc., chefs' income can reach billions of VND per year. For example, in Germany, new chefs (0-2 years of experience) have salaries ranging from 36,000 - 51,000 Euros/year (about 958 million - 1.4 billion VND), depending on the position. For experienced chefs, this number can reach 170,000 Euros/year (about 4.6 billion VND).

>> Reference: 

• WHY SHOULD YOU STUDY TO BE A CHEF?
• IS THE SALARY OF A CHEF IN GERMANY HIGH?

Chef job opportunities in Vietnam and around the world

If you are wondering whether studying to be a chef has a future, the answer is this profession. great potential for development. With the development of society, the trade, tourism, restaurant and hotel industries have also developed rapidly in recent years. This has led to an increasing demand for chef recruitment not only in Vietnam but also in many other countries around the world such as Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, England, Belgium, etc.

Due to the high demand for recruitment, most graduates from universities, colleges, vocational schools or culinary training centers have the opportunity to work in their field. Chefs not only work in restaurants, hotels, resorts but can also participate in collective kitchens in schools, hospitals or food factories.

In particular, Germany is lacking labor in the culinary industry and is actively recruiting chefs from abroad. A culinary degree from a training institution in Germany not only helps international students find jobs in the country easily, but also opens up job opportunities globally with attractive salaries.

In addition, you can participate in domestic and international culinary competitions to improve your skills and increase your income, reputation and position in the industry. Once you have accumulated enough skills, experience and necessary relationships, you can completely open your own culinary business. 

>> Reference: 

• Study and work in Germany: Summary of detailed information

• Popular German certificates in Vietnam you need to know

What do chefs do?

A chef's job is not only to prepare food but also includes many other important tasks such as preparing ingredients, decorating dishes, ensuring the hygiene of the kitchen area and preserving kitchen equipment. 

If you are passionate about cuisine and want to develop your career in an international environment, you can refer to the daily work of a professional chef in Germany to better understand the opportunities and requirements of this profession:

• Prepare and present dishes according to customer requests. Including German specialties and international cuisine such as Steak, Indian curry, sashimi, pasta, etc.
• Supervise and guide kitchen staff and ensure efficient workflow.
• Check and preserve raw materials to ensure food quality.
• Order ingredients and food as needed to maintain kitchen operations.
• Clean and tidy up work area at end of day, pack raw materials and dispose of waste before end of shift.
• For management level, in addition to the above tasks, there is also the responsibility of building party or seasonal menus according to customer requirements.

>> Reference: Discover German tastes and eating habits

What skills are needed to become a professional chef? 

In addition to good cooking skills, to become a professional chef, you need to equip yourself with some of the following necessary skills:

• Knife skills: Knives are considered the "right-hand man" of the chef, so mastering knife techniques will help perform cooking operations flexibly, quickly and ensure the aesthetics of the dishes. 
• Nutrition management and menu planning skills: The rule of nutritional balance in the process of creating a menu is very important, in order to meet the nutritional needs and ensure the health of diners. A chef needs to understand the nutritional value of each type of food, balance the calorie content and create a rich and reasonable menu. 
• Skills in planning and managing operations: When working in the culinary industry, especially in restaurants and hotels, a chef with good skills in this area will ensure work arrangement, task assignment and reasonable work process development to ensure the kitchen area operates efficiently. 
• Financial management skills: This is one of the important skills that helps chefs measure and control expenses, thereby calculating the cost of each dish in the most reasonable way to optimize profits and improve business efficiency.
• Creative skills: Cooking is like painting a delicate work of art, requiring the chef to have breakthrough creativity. A good chef must know how to combine basic knowledge with creativity to create unique flavors and impressive presentations, bringing an attractive culinary experience to diners.

>> Reference: What is life like in Germany? Daily life habits of Germans.

SHD Academy – The leading prestigious German vocational study abroad center in Vietnam 

If you are passionate about cuisine and want to find job opportunities and develop yourself in an international environment, you can register to join the program. German vocational training in culinary arts at SHD Academy. This is not only an opportunity for you to hone your professional skills but also a solid stepping stone to conquer an international degree, expand career opportunities and achieve an attractive income.

After nearly 7 years of working in the field of consulting and support vocational training in Germany For young Vietnamese people, SHD Academy is proud to have built a comprehensive ecosystem, bringing practical values to students. 

1. Connecting cooperation

• SHD Academy builds close cooperative relationships with local authorities in Vietnam, representatives of German states, leading educational institutions and businesses in Germany. From there, it not only opens up attractive job opportunities with guaranteed output for students but also commits to full benefits of accommodation, support for administrative procedures and necessary conditions, helping students feel secure in studying and developing a long-term career in Germany. 
• Thanks to a network of partners with more than 40 German enterprises and constantly expanding, SHD Academy confidently commits to providing students with jobs immediately after graduation with attractive income, helping young people confidently enter the international labor market and develop their future careers.
• Honored to be recognized by the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City as an excellent non-public educational institution for two consecutive school years (2022-2023 and 2023-2024), affirming top quality service.
• In addition, SHD Academy is the pioneer in bringing Vietnamese leaders to Germany to visit and work, demonstrating the care and concern of local leaders and SHD team for young human resources, strongly affirming the commitment to comprehensively accompany students from Vietnam to Germany. At the same time, affirming SHD's leading reputation in connecting international cooperation. 

2. Pioneer in financial support

• SHD Academy is proud to be a pioneer in providing practical financial solutions for students. By officially signing a cooperation agreement with Shinhan Bank to implement the "Companionship Tuition" program, SHD Academy opens up opportunities to help students access preferential loans more easily.
• In addition, thanks to close coordination with the authorities of the Mekong Delta provinces, SHD Academy has implemented financial loan packages from 150 to 200 million VND through the Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank) and reputable credit institutions such as the Social Policy Bank to support students in provinces such as An Giang, Tra Vinh, Ben Tre, Soc Trang.
• This solution not only helps reduce the financial burden for parents and students but also opens up opportunities for students to realize their dream of studying vocational training in Germany.

3. Comprehensive ecosystem

• Comprehensive ecosystem with German language training services, TELC test coordination, career orientation, interview training with businesses, visa interviews and legal support for students until graduation and stable jobs in Germany. 
• Transparent design process with clear costs, close connection between services, helping students have a seamless, uninterrupted learning and working experience.
• SHD Academy is committed to accompanying students on their journey to conquer their career goals, helping young people easily integrate into the international environment and build a sustainable career in Germany.

4. Personalize your learning and career path

• SHD Academy provides vocational training courses, helping students gain practical experience and discover themselves. Through this, students will recognize their strengths and identify fields that match their passion, thereby strengthening their choice of suitable majors.
• Based on individual abilities and labor market trends in Germany, SHD Academy orients and advises on personalized learning paths for each student. Thereby, students are supported to maximize their strengths, while meeting the human resource needs of the international market.
• Understanding that “integration” is the key to success, SHD organizes exchange sessions and activities to explore German culture, from customs, cuisine to daily life skills. These experiences not only help students get acquainted with the new environment but also understand how to communicate and work with Germans. Thanks to that, students feel more confident when entering life in Germany, ready to build a long-term career in a promising international environment.
• Up to now, more than 99% students of SHD Academy have successfully integrated in Germany, quickly adapted and demonstrated the ability to study and work effectively, receiving high appreciation from businesses. This once again affirms the outstanding quality in consulting, career orientation and cultural and skill preparation for students of SHD Academy.

>> Reference: 

• Free vocational study abroad program in Germany, high salary
• TOP 10 most prestigious German vocational study centers today

Photos of SHD Academy students studying culinary arts in Germany

Hope this article has helped you answer the question “Does the chef profession have a future??” as well as better understand the potential of profession This. Becoming a professional chef not only brings a stable income but also opens up many opportunities for promotion and career development both domestically and internationally. If you are interested in learning about studying culinary arts in Germany, please contact us immediately. SHD Academy Call hotline 0336 760 276 for detailed advice and support!