How much does a chef and head cook make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $30.03 an hour or $5,206 a month.
- Hourly
- $30.03
- Average (mean)
- $66,700
- Jobs
- 200,040
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,900 | $18.22 | |
| 25th | $48,440 | $23.29 | |
| Median | $62,470 | $30.03 | |
| 75th | $78,750 | $37.86 | |
| 90th | $98,560 | $47.38 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
| Massachusetts | $69,540 |
| Georgia | $66,230 |
| Vermont | $65,440 |
| Colorado | $65,400 |
| California | $64,500 |
| Missouri | $64,480 |
| Connecticut | $64,310 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,860 |
| Oregon | $63,600 |
| New Hampshire | $63,400 |
| Virginia | $63,270 |
| Minnesota | $62,600 |
| Alabama | $62,400 |
| Nevada | $62,380 |
| New Mexico | $62,250 |
| Maryland | $61,590 |
| Delaware | $61,440 |
| Wisconsin | $61,300 |
| North Carolina | $61,130 |
| West Virginia | $61,100 |
| Nebraska | $60,510 |
| Michigan | $60,070 |
| Arizona | $59,890 |
| Utah | $59,060 |
| Illinois | $58,830 |
| Oklahoma | $58,540 |
| Kansas | $58,390 |
| Florida | $58,240 |
| Montana | $57,470 |
| Maine | $57,010 |
| Texas | $56,080 |
| Mississippi | $54,850 |
| Ohio | $53,990 |
| Alaska | $52,190 |
| Indiana | $52,190 |
| Idaho | $52,000 |
| South Dakota | $48,470 |
| Kentucky | $48,070 |
| Iowa | $47,990 |
| Arkansas | $46,170 |
| Louisiana | $45,570 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Terre Haute, IN | $85,920 |
| Kahului, HI | $84,990 |
| Albany, NY | $84,430 |
| Morgantown, WV | $81,330 |
| Seattle, WA | $80,330 |
| Providence, RI | $79,340 |
| San Jose, CA | $79,020 |
| Napa, CA | $78,960 |
| Atlantic City, NJ | $75,740 |
| Vineland, NJ | $75,050 |
| Bremerton, WA | $74,940 |
| Washington, DC | $74,900 |
| Kingston, NY | $74,710 |
| Atlanta, GA | $74,660 |
| Honolulu, HI | $74,380 |
In other countries
Chef and Head Cook belongs to the international group "Chefs".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $30.03 ($62,470 a year).
How much does a chef and head cook make a month?
About $5,206 a month before tax, based on a median of $62,470 a year.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $37,900 or less a year ($18.22 an hour); the top 10% make $98,560 or more.
Which state pays chef and head cooks the most?
Rhode Island, with a median of $79,930 a year, followed by Hawaii ($77,360) and District of Columbia ($76,420).
Which city pays chef and head cooks the most?
Terre Haute, IN, with a median of $85,920 a year.
How many chef and head cooks are there in the United States?
About 200,040 people work as chef and head cooks.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.