Chef Jobs in District of Columbia

Chef jobs in District of Columbia are consistently in demand, with openings spread across the city's dense concentration of upscale restaurants, federal event venues, luxury hotels, and private member clubs. Most hiring is concentrated in neighborhoods like Penn Quarter, Capitol Hill, and Georgetown, where established operators including José Andrés's ThinkFoodGroup, Marriott International, and Sodexo Government Services maintain ongoing culinary staffing needs. The most sought-after specialties are fine dining, banquet and catering, and plant-forward cuisine reflecting D.C.'s health-conscious dining culture. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

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Overview

Open roles25
Top employerThe Ned Hotel
Top cityWashington, DC
Work type100% On-site
Top industryFood
Companies hiring18

Showing 5 of 25+ Chef jobs

The Ned Hotel
Head Pastry Chef
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The Ned Hotel
New 10h ago
Head Pastry Chef
The Ned Hotel
Washington, District of Columbia
Business Development
Partnerships & Business Development
Sales
$95k - $125k/yr
1,001-5,000

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Four Seasons
Chef de Partie
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Four Seasons
Added 1d ago
Chef de Partie
Four Seasons
Washington, District of Columbia
Business Development
Customer Success
Program Management
Project Management
$23.67 - $33.67/hr
Military encouraged
10,000+

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Daily Provisions
Cafe Chef
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Daily Provisions
Added 2d ago
Cafe Chef
Daily Provisions
Washington, District of Columbia
Program Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$80k - $85k/yr

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Aramark
Chef de Cuisine - United Club & Lounge - Capital One Arena
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Aramark
Added 2d ago
Chef de Cuisine - United Club & Lounge - Capital One Arena
Aramark
Washington, District of Columbia
IT Support
Project Management
Technical Program Management
10,000+

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Clyde's Restaurant Group
Executive Sous Chef
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Clyde's Restaurant Group
Added 2d ago
Executive Sous Chef
Clyde's Restaurant Group
Washington, District of Columbia
IT Support
Project Management
Technical Program Management
$80k - $90k/yr
1,001-5,000

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Chef Jobs by City in District of Columbia

Where District of Columbia roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Washington
25 jobs

Chef Job Market in District of Columbia

A snapshot from current District of Columbia openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

The Ned Hotel
The Ned Hotel4 open roles
Aramark
Aramark3 open roles
Daily Provisions
Daily Provisions2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Food & Beverage
  • Hospitality & Tourism

What District of Columbia Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in chef jobs across District of Columbia.

  • Possession of a valid D.C. Food Manager Certification or equivalent recognized credential
  • Proven experience executing high-volume service in a professional kitchen environment
  • Expertise in menu development, food costing, and ordering for a given cuisine or concept
  • Culinary degree or completed apprenticeship through an accredited culinary program
  • Strong knowledge of food safety, HACCP principles, and local health code compliance
  • Ability to lead and train a diverse kitchen team across multiple stations

Chef Jobs in District of Columbia: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a chef in District of Columbia?

D.C. does not require a state-issued chef's license, but all food handlers working in the District must obtain a D.C. Food Handler Certification, and those supervising food preparation must hold a Food Manager Certification issued through a D.C. Department of Health-approved provider such as ServSafe. Most kitchen leadership roles expect a culinary degree or a completed apprenticeship, and building experience in D.C.'s competitive restaurant scene through progressive kitchen positions is the standard path upward.

Which companies hire chefs in District of Columbia?

Employers hiring chefs in District of Columbia right now include The Ned Hotel, Aramark, and Daily Provisions, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. D.C.'s mix of high-profile restaurant groups, federal catering contractors, and major hotel brands means demand covers everything from line cooks to executive chefs across a range of concepts.

Which District of Columbia cities have the most chef jobs?

The cities with the most chef openings in District of Columbia are Washington. The bulk of demand is driven by the District's core dining and hospitality corridor, where hotel properties, government-adjacent event spaces, and a dense restaurant scene generate year-round kitchen staffing needs, while nearby suburban hubs reflect overflow from large catering and food service contractors with regional operations.

Are there remote chef jobs in District of Columbia?

Yes, but they're rare. About 0% of chef openings tied to District of Columbia are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, reflecting the fundamentally hands-on nature of professional kitchen work. The small share of remote roles typically involves culinary consulting, menu development, or food content creation that does not require daily on-site cooking.

How can I get hired as a chef in District of Columbia with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry point is a prep cook or kitchen assistant role at a large hotel food and beverage operation or a high-volume restaurant group such as those affiliated with major D.C. dining operators, where structured on-the-job training is common. Sodexo and Aramark both run culinary associate programs at their D.C.-area institutional accounts. Earning a D.C. Food Handler Certification before applying signals readiness, and completing a culinary program at a school such as the Art Institute of Washington or a community college culinary track gives candidates a clear edge.

Where can I find and apply to chef jobs in District of Columbia?

You can find and apply to chef jobs in District of Columbia on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the District. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level and preferred kitchen environment, then apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 25 Chef Jobs in District of Columbia

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