How much does a chef make in the United States?
This is the median gross salary: half earn more and half earn less. That is $4,051 a month.
- Approx. take-home per month
- $3,432
- Compared with the median pay in the United States
- 0.9 times
- Data from
- 2025
Where the United States ranks among 143 countries
Each line is a country, on a log scale from $100 to $100,000 a year.
In other countries
Median gross salary a year, in dollars.
| 1. Switzerland estimate | $77,130 |
| 2. Iceland estimate | $62,670 |
| 3. Luxembourg estimate | $60,020 |
| 6. Germany | $53,600 |
| 7. United States | $48,610 |
| 8. Ireland estimate | $45,770 |
| 143. Malawi estimate | $335 |
Similar jobs
Technicians and associate professionals
- Photographer$44,660
- Set designer$48,970
- Museum technician$46,380
- Other artistic and cultural associate professionals$58,040
- Legal aide$62,240
- Social care worker$45,930
- Religious worker$45,280
- Athlete$66,710
By state
Median gross salary a year.
| District of Columbia | $65,190 |
| Washington | $62,800 |
| Connecticut | $55,470 |
| New Jersey | $54,810 |
| Rhode Island | $54,150 |
| Vermont | $53,510 |
| Hawaii | $53,000 |
| New Hampshire | $52,910 |
| Colorado | $52,550 |
| New York | $52,120 |
See all 51 states
| Massachusetts | $51,310 |
| California | $50,410 |
| Maine | $50,250 |
| Delaware | $49,820 |
| Oregon | $49,110 |
| Nevada | $48,010 |
| Alaska | $47,810 |
| Virginia | $47,410 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,320 |
| Florida | $46,910 |
| North Carolina | $46,790 |
| Minnesota | $46,600 |
| Montana | $45,810 |
| North Dakota | $45,760 |
| Indiana | $45,440 |
| Maryland | $45,090 |
| Tennessee | $43,900 |
| Arizona | $43,640 |
| Illinois | $42,720 |
| South Carolina | $42,400 |
| New Mexico | $41,730 |
| Wisconsin | $41,410 |
| South Dakota | $41,370 |
| Utah | $41,040 |
| Michigan | $41,040 |
| Nebraska | $40,600 |
| Georgia | $40,550 |
| Iowa | $39,920 |
| Wyoming | $39,810 |
| Kansas | $39,740 |
| Missouri | $39,430 |
| Idaho | $39,140 |
| Ohio | $38,530 |
| Alabama | $38,360 |
| Texas | $38,200 |
| Mississippi | $37,890 |
| Oklahoma | $37,050 |
| Kentucky | $36,920 |
| Louisiana | $36,840 |
| Arkansas | $34,700 |
| West Virginia | $34,530 |
Jobs in this group in the United States
Official name of each one and its median salary a year.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $44,080 |
| Chef and Head Cook | $62,470 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef make a month in the United States?
The median gross salary is $4,051 a month, $48,610 a year.
How much does a chef make starting out and with experience?
The lowest-paid 10%, usually people starting out, make around $31,900 a year; the top 10%, with experience or senior roles, make more than $73,700.
Which country pays a chef the most?
Germany, with a median of $53,600 a year before tax, according to our data.
Which state pays a chef the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $65,190 a year.
Does a chef make more in the United States or in Germany?
In Germany: $53,600 a year against $48,610 in the United States, 1.1 times more.
Who makes more, a chef or a photographer?
A chef: $48,610 a year against $44,660 for a photographer, 1.1 times more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS survey, 2025. How we calculate