Chefs and Head Cooks pay in New York-Newark-Jersey City
In New York-Newark-Jersey City (NY), the median pay for chefs and head cooks is $34.51 an hour ($71,780 a year). About 20,010 people work in this job there.
That is 15% higher than the U.S. median ($62,470). It is 2% higher than the New York median ($70,670).
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in New York-Newark-Jersey City (NY)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $22.37 | $46,530 |
| 25% of workers | $26.48 | $55,070 |
| Half of workers (median) | $34.51 | $71,780 |
| 75% of workers | $43.20 | $89,860 |
| 90% of workers | $57.87 | $120,370 |
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in New York metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $84,430 | 470 |
| Kingston | $74,710 | 140 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $74,290 | 640 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | $72,340 | 360 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City (this page) | $71,780 | 20,010 |
| Glens Falls | $67,590 | 80 |
| Rochester | $66,080 | 690 |
| Syracuse | $64,170 | 240 |
| Ithaca | $64,010 | 80 |
| Elmira | $63,410 | 40 |
| Binghamton | $63,010 | 110 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum | $62,740 | 40 |
| Utica-Rome | $61,090 | 220 |
New York unemployment rate: 4.3% (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 York-Newark-Jersey City (NY)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $47,610 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $43,740 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,690 |
| Bakers | $38,890 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,870 |
| Food Service Managers | $82,970 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,360 |
| Food Batchmakers | $38,790 |
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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.