Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Washington
In Washington, the median pay for chefs and head cooks is $36.54 an hour ($76,010 a year). About 5,320 people work in this job there.
That is 22% higher than the U.S. median ($62,470). Washington ranks 4th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Washington
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $24.00 | $49,920 |
| 25% of workers | $28.20 | $58,650 |
| Half of workers (median) | $36.54 | $76,010 |
| 75% of workers | $39.20 | $81,540 |
| 90% of workers | $46.15 | $95,990 |
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Washington metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $80,330 | 3,740 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $74,940 | 140 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $73,750 | 100 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $73,690 | 80 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $72,270 | 140 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $71,540 | 240 |
| Bellingham | $70,410 | 140 |
| Walla Walla | $68,120 | 40 |
| Longview-Kelso | $63,080 | 40 |
| Yakima | $62,920 | 80 |
Washington unemployment rate: 4.9% (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 Washington
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $56,130 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $46,800 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $59,400 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $49,670 |
| Bakers | $46,140 |
| Food Batchmakers | $42,710 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,760 |
| Food Service Managers | $95,190 |
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.