How to become a chef in South Africa

When a head chef is deciding whether to hire you he or she is generally considering two factors: first, where you received your training, as this is shown by a certificate; and second, how well you perform when the number of orders increases on a Friday night, and for this only a trial shift will serve as evidence. Different kitchens prioritise these factors in different ways, and the advertisement usually makes it clear which one this kitchen places more importance on.

What is described here is the formal procedure, the amount of time the law allows a kitchen to ask of you, and the criteria you should consider in a chef's advertisement before you send in your CV.

What qualification is required if one is to become a chef?

The official qualification is the Occupational Certificate Chef, with SAQA ID 101697, and this is at NQF level 5; it is the only thing that a kitchen can verify on paper.

The certificate has a credit value of at least 558 and allows enrolment at NQF level 2 together with mathematical literacy, which means that matric maths is not required. Completion of the programme involves an external integrated summative assessment that is conducted by an assessment quality partner of the QCTO (the body which oversees occupational qualifications).

According to SAQA the course prepares you for a career as a chef; during your studies you could work as a kitchen hand or as a commis cook, but once you have the qualification and have gained some years' experience thereafter, your next positions would be as sous chef and then as executive chef.

If you are deciding on a course at this time, you should note the dates; the qualification is shown as reregistered, with the last date for enrolment being 30 December 2026 and the last date for completion 30 December 2029. Find out from the college which version it teaches and whether or not the QCTO has accredited it to do so.

What working hours can you be asked to work in the kitchen?

The Basic Conditions of Employment Act limits ordinary working hours to 45 per week: this is nine hours per day if you work five days or fewer and eight hours if you work more than five.

Overtime is added on provided that you agree to it, never exceeding three hours in a day or ten hours in a week, and it must be at least one and a half times your regular wage.

Sundays and evening services are considered separately. If the Sunday hours are not part of your ordinary week, you will receive double pay for each hour worked on a Sunday; if they are part of your normal week, you will get one and a half times the normal rate. All shifts that start after 18:00 and finish before 06:00 are classified as night work and your employer can only require you to do them with your agreement and only if they pay an allowance or reduce your working hours; furthermore, transport must be available between your home and place of work at the beginning and end of the shift. And when you work for more than five hours continuously, you are entitled to a meal break of at least one hour's duration.

There is a limit to all this. If your earnings exceed the BCEA earnings threshold—which from 1 May 2026 is R269 600,90 per year (approximately R22 467 per month)—then these rules no longer apply. In such a case, a well-paid sous chef or head chef would be above that limit and it would be the hours clause in your contract that would be relevant. Make sure you read it before signing.

How much do jobs as a chef pay?

There is no fixed chef's wage; the national minimum wage serves as the minimum rate for all workers, amounting to R30,23 per ordinary hour from 1 March 2026, and the amount earned above that varies according to the kitchen, the town, and the level at which you start.

The figure you should look at is the one shown in the advertisement. When comparing two advertisements, check:

1. Whether it's on a monthly or annual basis, for basic pay or for the company's cost? The same headline figure can result in very different amounts being credited to your account. What CTC means on a job advert works through it in rands.
2. When it comes to accommodation or meals, if a lodge or country hotel provides a room as part of the job, find out whether the value of it is included in the salary or added on top of the salary.
3. Here's what the title signifies. The work of a chef de partie at a large city restaurant is quite different from that of a chef de partie at a small guesthouse. It is the responsibilities that tell you more than the title.

Before you apply

When looking at the advert, focus on the information it gives about the kitchen, not just the position itself. The type of service offered—whether it's à la carte, buffet or banqueting—and also the size of the kitchen staff all indicate what a typical shift involves. A CV which shows that you have managed a similar section at a comparable level of output is more impressive than a list of all the kitchens you have worked in.

When the position is a long way from home, it's important to find out how time off is arranged and how you get there and back; live-in posts may be a suitable option provided that the time off is actually given.

You should not be asked to pay in order to apply. According to the Employment Services Act, a private employment agency is not allowed to charge you a fee for securing you a job; agencies may not charge you explains what to do if one asks you to pay.

Once you are ready, the chef jobs page shows all the adverts for chefs on IdealJobs, ordered by most recent, including the towns and the pay as stated in the adverts.

Chef jobs on IdealJobs→