How much does a chef and head cook make in Philadelphia?
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area. That is $31.58 an hour or $5,473 a month.
- Hourly
- $31.58
- Vs. national median
- +5%
- Rank among cities
- 65 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 5,700
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $43,440 | $20.88 | |
| 25th | $55,830 | $26.84 | |
| Median | $65,680 | $31.58 | |
| 75th | $88,140 | $42.38 | |
| 90th | $104,100 | $50.03 |
Other cities in Pennsylvania
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| Reading, PA | $66,980 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $66,320 |
| Allentown, PA | $63,220 |
| Scranton, PA | $60,750 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $59,950 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $59,690 |
| State College, PA | $58,560 |
| Lancaster, PA | $58,040 |
| York, PA | $56,860 |
| Johnstown, PA | $56,440 |
| Lebanon, PA | $52,870 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $52,000 |
| Erie, PA | $51,340 |
| Altoona, PA | $49,040 |
| Williamsport, PA | $47,840 |
Related jobs in Philadelphia
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,580 |
| Cook | $38,870 |
| Cook | $38,850 |
| Cook | $38,270 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $36,570 |
| Bartender | $36,040 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,560 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $34,190 |
| Food Server | $33,300 |
| Dishwasher | $33,270 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Philadelphia?
The median hourly pay in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $31.58 ($65,680 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Philadelphia than the national average?
Yes: $65,680 against $62,470 nationally, 5% more.
How does Philadelphia compare with the rest of Pennsylvania?
The median in Pennsylvania is $63,860, so Philadelphia pays 3% more.
Where does Philadelphia rank for chef and head cook pay?
65 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% make $43,440 or less a year; the top 10% make $104,100 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.