‘Hell’s Kitchen’ Winners Are Rewarded Hefty Salaries After They Become a Head Chef

Fox's Hell's Kitchen is one of the longest-running reality competition in TV history. Since the show launched over two decades ago, it has brought Gordon Ramsay and his screaming fits global success, as the chef is now a household name. Gordon also gave multiple rising chefs the platforms needed to get their careers off the ground.

As many Hell's Kitchen watchers already know, the series grants its winners with a head start in the form of a cash prize and a role as one of Gordon's head chefs. But, just how much does the head chef make? Here's a look at the head chef's salary.

The salary for a Hell's Kitchen chef isn't as high as those watching the show from home may think. The job is rewarded to the chef who wins the competition, as well as the $250,000 cash prize. However, the prize counts as a one-year salary, with the chef bringing home a little over $20,000 a month. While that monthly salary is nothing to scoff at, it's unclear if the chef is supported after their year with the restaurant group is over.

Additionally, some fans on Reddit have stated that the prized salary isn't enough for a chef to survive on these days. As of this writing, the prize money hasn't changed since the show debuted in May 2005. Fans addressed the lack of change and claimed the salary should reflect inflation costs moving forward.

"So we’re on 22 seasons now but the salary for the head chef position has stayed at $250,000," the fan said. "Should it increase due to inflation? How much do head chefs at fancy restaurants usually make in these high cost of living cities? Using a simple Google inflation calculator $250,000 in 2004 would be worth $405,963.47 today."

While the chance to become a thousandaire overnight and work for a renowned restaurant would be the dream for most up-and-coming chefs, many of them decided not to take on the coveted position. Throughout the show's run, several winners have declined Gordon's offer to be a head chef at one of his restaurants, and instead decide to take the money instead.

According to a Hell's Kitchen Reddit thread, fans have recalled that some chefs didn't take the job because they were didn't pass a mandatory drug test, had work visa issues, or simply weren't qualified enough for the job. Still, due to them winning the competition, they were able to keep the money either way.

Gordon has addressed how some of the past Hell's Kitchen winners didn't go on to work for him full-time. According to his interview with The Daily Beast (via Reality Blurred), the chef believes some winners may need more time for mentorship, which is to be expected.

"You can’t take someone and put them in an unfamiliar restaurant and expect them to exceed [sic], they need to have a mentor and work alongside an executive chef," Gordon said. "The executive chefs at our prize restaurants are always amazing and the winner has an amazing opportunity to learn from the best."

Catch new episodes of Hell's Kitchen on Thursdays at 8 p.m. EST on Fox.