How much does a chef and head cook make in Trenton?
$70,210a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area. That is $33.75 an hour or $5,851 a month.
- Hourly
- $33.75
- Vs. national median
- +12%
- Rank among cities
- 34 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 480
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,890Median: $70,210Highest 10%: $107,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,890 | $16.77 | |
| 25th | $49,420 | $23.76 | |
| Median | $70,210 | $33.75 | |
| 75th | $84,150 | $40.46 | |
| 90th | $107,900 | $51.88 |
Other cities in New Jersey
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| Atlantic City, NJ | $75,740 |
| Vineland, NJ | $75,050 |
| New York, NY | $71,780 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $65,680 |
| Allentown, PA | $63,220 |
Related jobs in Trenton
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,850 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $43,350 |
| Cook | $42,960 |
| Bartender | $38,800 |
| Cook | $38,400 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $38,070 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,950 |
| Cook | $35,920 |
| Food Server | $35,740 |
| Dishwasher | $35,360 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Trenton?
The median hourly pay in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area is $33.75 ($70,210 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Trenton than the national average?
Yes: $70,210 against $62,470 nationally, 12% more.
How does Trenton compare with the rest of New Jersey?
The median in New Jersey is $74,280, so Trenton pays 5% less.
Where does Trenton rank for chef and head cook pay?
34 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Trenton?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,890 or less a year; the top 10% make $107,900 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.