So you want to be a chef, right? You imagine yourself in a kitchen, hearing the sizzle of a hot pan, smelling fresh herbs, and seeing people enjoy the food you make. Then you think, “How much do chefs actually earn in Mumbai?”
It’s a good question, and to be honest its not discussed enough. Let’s look at it. In terms of talking to someone who’s new to the industry and wants to know more about their future as a chef. The chef’s salary in Mumbai is what we’re focusing on here. I think it’s essential to understand that chef salaries in Mumbai vary.
You have to consider what kind of restaurant or kitchen you want to work in, and then look at the salary, in Mumbai, for that specific place.
Why Mumbai Is a Different Ballgame
Mumbai is not the place where India’s money is made. It is also a great place to eat. You can find good food in fancy restaurants in Bandra and in bars on rooftops in Lower Parel. The city of Mumbai has a great food scene. People who can cook are always in demand in Mumbai. This means they get paid well. The amount of money they get paid can be very different depending on what kind of food they specialize in. Mumbai has a lot of types of food, and that is what makes it so great. The food scene in Mumbai is very competitive. That is why people who can cook are always needed.
Indian Cuisine Chef Salary in Mumbai
You think Indian food is easy to make just because you had it when you were growing up. That is not true. It takes time to learn how to make the different kinds of Indian food from different places, like the slow cooking methods they use in Awadhi and the way they prepare food in Konkani by the coast. Indian cuisine is not simple. It takes considerable work and frequent practice to master a skill.
The average salary of a middle-class Indian cuisine chef in Mumbai would be in the range of ₹2.5 LPA to ₹7 LPA. Making money in the industry is also possible for Indian cuisine chefs who have a considerable amount of experience and a high level of proficiency in traditional Indian cuisine.
It is also possible for Indian cuisine chefs to earn a higher salary by working for hotels such as Taj and Oberoi, as these hotels prefer Indian cuisine chefs who are able to make exclusive and unique Indian cuisine-based meals.
Pastry Chef Salary in Mumbai
Pastry is really popular in India now. Mumbai is the place where you can find all the action. There are lots of shops that make fancy cakes, places that specialize in wedding cakes and big hotels with dessert counters. If you are good at working with chocolate making things with sugar and making pastries then you have a lot of opportunities in Mumbai. Pastry is a deal and people are looking for people, with these skills.
The pastry chef salary in Mumbai is around ₹2 LPA to ₹3.5 LPA when you are new and have a diploma. Pastry chef salary in Mumbai can be higher when you have experience. If you have been working for three to five years and you have a portfolio the pastry chef salary in Mumbai is around ₹5 LPA to ₹9 LPA. Pastry chefs who make eggless or vegan pastry have a chance of getting a better pastry chef salary in Mumbai because many people, in the city prefer this kind of food.
Institutions like APCA India, near Marol Metro Station in Andheri East have trained many pastry professionals. These professionals have gone on to work with hotels, restaurants and pastry brands, in Mumbai. APCA India or Academy of Pastry & Culinary Arts has helped hundreds of people get jobs in places.
Hotel Chef Salary in Mumbai
The hospitality sector is an employer of chefs in India. It offers them a job with good benefits. Five-star hotels and luxury hotels give chefs a salary and other perks like accommodation allowances, free meals, health insurance, and a clear path for career growth. These hotels also provide chefs with a place to stay and meals, which can be a help. The hospitality sector is a place for chefs to work in India. Hotels offer chefs a salary, health coverage, and a chance to move up in their careers.
The hotel chef’s salary in Mumbai varies by position:
- Commis Chef: ₹1.8 LPA – ₹3 LPA
- Chef de Partie: ₹3 LPA – ₹5.5 LPA
- Sous-Chef: ₹5 LPA – ₹9 LPA
- Head Chef: ₹8 LPA – ₹15 LPA
APCA India’s placement partners include IHG, Taj, Hyatt, Marriott, and other leading hotel brands — giving students a direct pathway into the hotel industry right after completing their training.
Executive Chef Salary in India
The executive chef is at the top of the kitchen. They are responsible, for menu development managing the kitchen controlling food costs and making sure the dining experience is great. To be a chef you usually need years of experience good leadership skills and have worked in different countries.
The salary of a chef in India is around ₹15 LPA to ₹40 LPA. Executive chef salary in India can be higher in some places. For example executive chef salary in Mumbai is often higher because many big hotels are there. These are usually five-star properties. They pay executive chef salary in India that is on the higher side. Some famous chefs and the people who are in charge of food for hotel groups can earn a lot more than that. Executive chef salary in India is very different, for these people.
It’s a long road to the top — but it’s a road with a very real destination.
Chef Salary After Culinary School in India
What cooking school websites do not tell you is that the money you make after you finish cooking school is not a lot. That is okay.
The money a chef makes after cooking school in India is usually around ₹1.8 LPA to ₹3 LPA, depending on the school the city and who you work for. What really matters is how your career goes from there. People who graduate from schools with lots of connections. Like APCA India. Often get to work with really good companies that help them learn and grow faster.
The Academy of Professional Culinary Arts or APCA has a 9-month diploma program. This program has 1,440 hours of hands-on training. The APCA program also has a 1:16 chef-to-student ratio. The curriculum of the APCA program covers all international cuisines. Students of the APCA program get to go on trips. They also get internships with leading brands like the APCA program partners. The training in the APCA program really helps students when they enter the workforce. This is because the APCA program makes students kitchen-ready not just theory-ready. As a result students of the APCA program can get salary growth.
Culinary Arts Career Salary in India — The Bigger Picture
A career in arts in India does not really have a fixed salary. It is like a path that you make for yourself. This path is decided by what you’re good at, where you live and how much you want to achieve. If you live in Mumbai it is an idea to get really good at something like making special foods cooking food from other countries or making nice pastries.
The food business is getting bigger fast. There are new ways for a good chef to have a great career. For example there are kitchens fancy restaurants are opening people are traveling to taste new foods and there are lots of food shows, on television and online. All these things make it a good time to be a chef and make a living.
The Bottom Line
If you really want to be a chef in Mumbai you need to think about getting the training. The best thing you can do now is invest in a good cooking course. These courses teach you how to cook and also help you meet people in the industry find a mentor and get a job. APCA India in Mumbai is a place to start. They have courses for baking and cooking teachers from, around the world. They help students get jobs. APCA India’s Mumbai center has a track record of placing students in top hospitality companies. So are you ready to start cooking and wearing that chef’s coat? Your chef’s coat is waiting for you.
The question is. How soon are you going to put it on and start your career in Mumbai?