Chefs and Head Cooks pay in New Mexico
In New Mexico, the median pay for chefs and head cooks is $29.93 an hour ($62,250 a year). About 770 people work in this job there.
That is about the same as the U.S. median ($62,470). New Mexico ranks 25th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in New Mexico
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $20.85 | $43,370 |
| 25% of workers | $23.34 | $48,540 |
| Half of workers (median) | $29.93 | $62,250 |
| 75% of workers | $40.03 | $83,260 |
| 90% of workers | $48.08 | $100,010 |
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in New Mexico metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe | $72,020 | 100 |
| Las Cruces | $61,030 | 40 |
| Albuquerque | $60,040 | 390 |
New Mexico unemployment rate: 4.7% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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 New Mexico
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,920 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,020 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,310 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,470 |
| Bakers | $34,850 |
| Food Service Managers | $65,210 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,150 |
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.