The third season of the hit cooking drama “The Bear” premiered on June 26, much to the delight of fans. In the previous season, viewers followed chef Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (played by Jeremy Allen White) and his team as they transformed their family-owned restaurant, Original Beef of Chicagoland, into a fine-dining establishment called The Bear.
Fans of the show have been inspired by its portrayal of culinary arts, often responding with an enthusiastic “Yes, chef!” when asked about it. However, for those considering a career change to become a chef like Carmy, the question of how much money they could potentially earn may arise. Salaries for chefs and kitchen staff can vary widely depending on factors such as establishment size, location, and experience level.
To estimate the average salaries for staff at The Bear if it were to open in 2023, Business Insider analyzed national and Chicago-area wage data for restaurant workers. In recent years, pay for leisure and hospitality workers has seen significant growth due to increased demand from customers. Restaurant staff wages have increased by 31.1% since January 2020 alone – outpacing the average wage increase of all private workers, which is 25.4%.
Despite these wage increases, staff at The Bear may still face challenges such as high rental costs in Chicago’s competitive rental market. According to a report by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, 48% of renters in Chicago feel cost-burdened due to spending between 30% and 50% of their income on housing. Additionally, Chicago’s suburbs are currently ranked as one of the most competitive rental markets in America. Ultimately, annual salaries at The Bear will depend on each employee’s role within the restaurant and other specific factors unique to their position.
