How much does a chef and head cook make in New York?
$71,780a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area. That is $34.51 an hour or $5,982 a month.
- Hourly
- $34.51
- Vs. national median
- +15%
- Rank among cities
- 28 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 20,010
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $46,530Median: $71,780Highest 10%: $120,400
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,530 | $22.37 | |
| 25th | $55,070 | $26.48 | |
| Median | $71,780 | $34.51 | |
| 75th | $89,860 | $43.20 | |
| 90th | $120,400 | $57.87 |
Other cities in New York
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| Albany, NY | $84,430 |
| Kingston, NY | $74,710 |
| Buffalo, NY | $74,290 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | $72,340 |
| 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 New York
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Bartender | $61,220 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $48,690 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $47,610 |
| Cook | $46,870 |
| Cook | $43,740 |
| Cook | $42,630 |
| Food Server | $39,120 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $36,980 |
| Host and Hostess | $36,500 |
| Cook | $35,780 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in New York?
The median hourly pay in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $34.51 ($71,780 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in New York than the national average?
Yes: $71,780 against $62,470 nationally, 15% more.
How does New York compare with the rest of New York?
The median in New York is $70,670, so New York pays 2% more.
Where does New York rank for chef and head cook pay?
28 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in New York?
The lowest-paid 10% make $46,530 or less a year; the top 10% make $120,400 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.