How much does a chef and head cook make in Boston?
$72,470a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area. That is $34.84 an hour or $6,039 a month.
- Hourly
- $34.84
- Vs. national median
- +16%
- Rank among cities
- 23 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 4,430
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $48,820Median: $72,470Highest 10%: $100,700
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,820 | $23.47 | |
| 25th | $56,790 | $27.30 | |
| Median | $72,470 | $34.84 | |
| 75th | $85,000 | $40.87 | |
| 90th | $100,700 | $48.43 |
Other cities in Massachusetts
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| Providence, RI | $79,340 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $67,700 |
| Amherst Town, MA | $66,450 |
| Worcester, MA | $64,620 |
| Springfield, MA | $64,000 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $61,580 |
Related jobs in Boston
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Cook | $48,530 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $47,090 |
| Cook | $45,830 |
| Cook | $41,600 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,660 |
| Cook | $39,600 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $39,270 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $38,210 |
| Bartender | $37,760 |
| Dishwasher | $37,750 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Boston?
The median hourly pay in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $34.84 ($72,470 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Boston than the national average?
Yes: $72,470 against $62,470 nationally, 16% more.
How does Boston compare with the rest of Massachusetts?
The median in Massachusetts is $69,540, so Boston pays 4% more.
Where does Boston rank for chef and head cook pay?
23 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% make $48,820 or less a year; the top 10% make $100,700 or more.
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.