Sous Chef

Salary band

Base salary, gross annual

25th percentile

€30,000

Median

€38,000

75th percentile

€48,000

For reference: the statutory minimum wage in Germany has stood at €13.90 gross per hour since January 1, 2026 — roughly €2,410 gross a month for a full-time role at 40 hours/week. (BMAS: Mindestlohn steigt zum 1. Januar 2026 auf 13,90 Euro)

Gross fixed salary per year for a Sous Chef with 5-12 years of experience in German hospitality (independent restaurants, hotel restaurants, system gastronomy or fine dining from 60-150 seats). Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Düsseldorf pull the range up by 10-15 %; rural regions and the East pull it down by 5-10 %. Profiles with station experience in 1- or 2-star houses, with a patisserie or saucier specialization, or with proven brigade leadership (at least 6-10 cooks under them) sit at the top end. Special payments (Christmas and holiday pay per DEHOGA tariff recommendation) and free meals are typical for the industry but structurally outside the fixed salary.

Sources: Destatis Verdiensterhebung Gastgewerbe (April 2025); StepStone Gehaltsreport Souschef 2026; DEHOGA Tarifempfehlung und Länder-Tarifverträge Gastgewerbe; Glassdoor Gehaltsdaten Souschef Deutschland 2025