Based on 2 submissions across Aotearoa
Second-in-command in a professional kitchen, running the team and delivering service in the head chef's absence. Manages sections, quality, stock, and kitchen standards. A key leadership step in NZ hospitality careers. The role suits chefs who can manage a kitchen with confidence, from one smooth service to the next. Strong communication, consistency, and the ability to develop younger cooks make the sous chef the engine room of the brigade. The role builds the leadership habits needed to run a kitchen, from prep lists to service pace. It is also a position where many chefs first take real ownership of a menu.
Base salary + bonuses, based on 2 submissions
Based on 2 anonymous submissions
Across 2 anonymous submissions, the median total salary for a Sous Chef in New Zealand is $82,000 per year. Total remuneration ranges from about $80,000 (10th percentile) to $84,000 (90th percentile).
A full-time median of $82,000 per year compares with the NZ minimum wage of $49,816 per year and the living wage of $62,192 per year.
Median pay by experience: Senior (6-9 Yrs) $82,000.
Based on 2 submissions
Median salary progression