Chefs and Head Cooks pay in the United States
In the U.S., the median pay for chefs and head cooks is $30.03 an hour ($62,470 a year). About 200,040 people work in this job there.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in the U.S.
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $18.22 | $37,900 |
| 25% of workers | $23.29 | $48,440 |
| Half of workers (median) | $30.03 | $62,470 |
| 75% of workers | $37.86 | $78,750 |
| 90% of workers | $47.39 | $98,560 |
Best-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 | 740 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 | 1,240 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 | 2,020 |
| Washington | $76,010 | 5,320 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 | 100 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 | 9,100 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 | 240 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 | 2,650 |
| New York | $70,670 | 17,430 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 | 3,820 |
Pay by state
- Alabama · $62,400
- Alaska · $52,190
- Arizona · $59,890
- Arkansas · $46,170
- California · $64,500
- Colorado · $65,400
- Connecticut · $64,310
- Delaware · $61,440
- District of Columbia · $76,420
- Florida · $58,240
- Georgia · $66,230
- Hawaii · $77,360
- Idaho · $52,000
- Illinois · $58,830
- Indiana · $52,190
- Iowa · $47,990
- Kansas · $58,390
- Kentucky · $48,070
- Louisiana · $45,570
- Maine · $57,010
- Maryland · $61,590
- Massachusetts · $69,540
- Michigan · $60,070
- Minnesota · $62,600
- Mississippi · $54,850
- Missouri · $64,480
- Montana · $57,470
- Nebraska · $60,510
- Nevada · $62,380
- New Hampshire · $63,400
- New Jersey · $74,280
- New Mexico · $62,250
- New York · $70,670
- North Carolina · $61,130
- Ohio · $53,990
- Oklahoma · $58,540
- Oregon · $63,600
- Pennsylvania · $63,860
- Rhode Island · $79,930
- South Carolina · $71,860
- Tennessee · $69,810
- Texas · $56,080
- Utah · $59,060
- Vermont · $65,440
- Virginia · $63,270
- Washington · $76,010
- Wisconsin · $61,300
Education, experience and outlook for chefs and head cooks
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: 5 years or more (BLS)
- Job outlook: +6.6% over ten years, faster than average · about 25,200 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,230 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,390 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,080 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,450 |
| Food Service Managers | $69,390 |
| Bakers | $37,160 |
| Food Batchmakers | $42,290 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,880 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.