How much does a chef and head cook make in Buffalo?
$74,290a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area. That is $35.72 an hour or $6,191 a month.
- Hourly
- $35.72
- Vs. national median
- +19%
- Rank among cities
- 16 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 640
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $48,500Median: $74,290Highest 10%: $103,500
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,500 | $23.32 | |
| 25th | $59,010 | $28.37 | |
| Median | $74,290 | $35.72 | |
| 75th | $92,080 | $44.27 | |
| 90th | $103,500 | $49.76 |
Other cities in New York
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| Albany, NY | $84,430 |
| Kingston, NY | $74,710 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | $72,340 |
| New York, NY | $71,780 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $67,590 |
| Rochester, NY | $66,080 |
| Syracuse, NY | $64,170 |
| Ithaca, NY | $64,010 |
| Binghamton, NY | $63,010 |
| Utica, NY | $61,090 |
Related jobs in Buffalo
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Bartender | $46,920 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $46,580 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $44,720 |
| Cook | $41,860 |
| Cook | $38,580 |
| Cook | $38,060 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $35,140 |
| Dishwasher | $35,080 |
| Cook | $34,730 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,700 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Buffalo?
The median hourly pay in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $35.72 ($74,290 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Buffalo than the national average?
Yes: $74,290 against $62,470 nationally, 19% more.
How does Buffalo compare with the rest of New York?
The median in New York is $70,670, so Buffalo pays 5% more.
Where does Buffalo rank for chef and head cook pay?
16 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Buffalo?
The lowest-paid 10% make $48,500 or less a year; the top 10% make $103,500 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.