Chef and Head Cook Salary
Chefs and Head Cooks earn a median $62,470 a year nationally. Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
U.S. median
$62,470
$30.03 per hour
Range
$37,900 – $98,560
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
200,040
across the U.S.
Chef and Head Cook take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$52,375
per year · effective tax rate 16.2%
$4,365Monthly
$2,182Twice a month
$2,014Every 2 weeks
$25.18Hourly
- Federal income tax$5,316
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,873
- Medicare (1.45%)$906
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$52,375
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,900 | $18.22 | $32,633 |
| 25th percentile | $48,440 | $23.29 | $41,102 |
| Median (50th) | $62,470 | $30.03 | $52,375 |
| 75th percentile | $78,750 | $37.86 | $64,231 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,560 | $47.38 | $78,167 |
Best cities for chefs and head cooks (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albany, NY | $84,430 | $64,264 | $64,544 | 470 |
| 2 | Providence, RI | $79,340 | $62,287 | $61,202 | 1,070 |
| 3 | Nashville, TN | $70,420 | $58,370 | $60,589 | 1,780 |
| 4 | Buffalo, NY | $74,290 | $57,678 | $60,179 | 640 |
| 5 | Atlantic City, NJ | $75,740 | $59,476 | $60,164 | 900 |
| 6 | Memphis, TN | $66,230 | $55,396 | $60,096 | 540 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $80,330 | $65,342 | $58,796 | 3,740 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $74,660 | $58,101 | $58,068 | 2,370 |
| 9 | Charleston, SC | $74,210 | $57,741 | $57,191 | 770 |
| 10 | Knoxville, TN | $62,770 | $52,616 | $56,839 | 470 |
| 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | $66,320 | $53,432 | $56,440 | 1,340 |
| 12 | Oklahoma City, OK | $63,160 | $50,632 | $56,004 | 590 |
| 13 | Kansas City, MO | $64,010 | $51,541 | $55,694 | 890 |
| 14 | Naples, FL | $68,830 | $57,252 | $55,477 | 640 |
| 15 | San Jose, CA | $79,020 | $60,274 | $54,585 | 1,280 |
| 16 | St. Louis, MO | $64,480 | $51,896 | $54,577 | 1,030 |
| 17 | Trenton, NJ | $70,210 | $55,891 | $54,169 | 480 |
| 18 | Rochester, NY | $66,080 | $52,304 | $53,902 | 690 |
| 19 | Washington, DC | $74,900 | $58,100 | $53,360 | 4,680 |
| 20 | Austin, TX | $62,400 | $52,318 | $53,350 | 1,710 |
| 21 | Charlotte, NC | $64,260 | $51,758 | $53,168 | 1,480 |
| 22 | Santa Rosa, CA | $73,570 | $56,957 | $52,843 | 460 |
| 23 | Scranton, PA | $60,750 | $49,128 | $52,511 | 450 |
| 24 | Las Vegas, NV | $62,380 | $52,302 | $52,190 | 3,430 |
| 25 | Boston, MA | $72,470 | $56,409 | $52,102 | 4,430 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Albany, NY — $84,430
- Seattle, WA — $80,330
- Providence, RI — $79,340
- San Jose, CA — $79,020
- Atlantic City, NJ — $75,740
- Washington, DC — $74,900
- Atlanta, GA — $74,660
- Urban Honolulu, HI — $74,380
- Buffalo, NY — $74,290
- Charleston, SC — $74,210
- Santa Rosa, CA — $73,570
- Boston, MA — $72,470
- New York, NY — $71,780
- Nashville, TN — $70,420
- Trenton, NJ — $70,210
Chef and Head Cook salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 | $62,680 | $56,680 – $127,080 | 740 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 | $58,904 | $48,970 – $118,000 | 1,240 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 | $59,064 | $56,570 – $104,660 | 2,020 |
| Washington | $76,010 | $62,303 | $49,920 – $95,990 | 5,320 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 | $61,211 | $48,240 – $85,190 | 100 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 | $58,530 | $49,200 – $100,100 | 9,100 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 | $60,305 | $48,460 – $98,580 | 240 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 | $56,229 | $47,640 – $88,880 | 2,650 |
| New York | $70,670 | $55,327 | $46,260 – $120,370 | 17,430 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 | $57,941 | $45,410 – $98,860 | 3,820 |
| Massachusetts | $69,540 | $54,494 | $47,460 – $99,270 | 6,000 |
| Georgia | $66,230 | $52,581 | $43,300 – $100,970 | 3,680 |
| Vermont | $65,440 | $52,902 | $48,950 – $83,040 | 610 |
| Colorado | $65,400 | $52,560 | $46,330 – $93,270 | 3,970 |
| California | $64,500 | $51,219 | $37,380 – $101,870 | 31,670 |
| Missouri | $64,480 | $51,896 | $39,650 – $91,500 | 1,750 |
| Connecticut | $64,310 | $51,884 | $44,530 – $99,870 | 3,080 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,860 | $51,531 | $39,040 – $95,830 | 9,170 |
| Oregon | $63,600 | $48,547 | $45,910 – $95,180 | 2,510 |
| New Hampshire | $63,400 | $53,122 | $40,220 – $95,990 | 1,170 |
| Virginia | $63,270 | $50,194 | $43,010 – $90,470 | 3,600 |
| Minnesota | $62,600 | $49,746 | $48,400 – $95,890 | 1,730 |
| Alabama | $62,400 | $49,463 | $39,940 – $85,990 | 1,000 |
| Nevada | $62,380 | $52,302 | $36,410 – $100,980 | 3,940 |
| New Mexico | $62,250 | $50,438 | $43,370 – $100,010 | 770 |
| Maryland | $61,590 | $49,106 | $38,310 – $100,330 | 3,220 |
| Delaware | $61,440 | $48,814 | $49,920 – $84,680 | 590 |
| Wisconsin | $61,300 | $49,518 | $41,990 – $87,570 | 1,860 |
| North Carolina | $61,130 | $49,368 | $38,210 – $92,210 | 4,920 |
| West Virginia | $61,100 | $49,260 | $40,520 – $88,690 | 350 |
| Nebraska | $60,510 | $48,926 | $39,650 – $99,990 | 540 |
| Michigan | $60,070 | $48,144 | $42,170 – $82,000 | 5,360 |
| Arizona | $59,890 | $49,013 | $33,970 – $95,240 | 4,080 |
| Utah | $59,060 | $47,943 | $27,940 – $79,420 | 1,740 |
| Illinois | $58,830 | $46,683 | $40,330 – $88,420 | 8,290 |
| Oklahoma | $58,540 | $47,128 | $28,920 – $77,450 | 1,430 |
| Kansas | $58,390 | $46,638 | $36,540 – $89,990 | 860 |
| Florida | $58,240 | $48,976 | $31,920 – $92,300 | 19,670 |
| Montana | $57,470 | $46,413 | $38,200 – $80,180 | 720 |
| Maine | $57,010 | $45,321 | $48,430 – $81,120 | 1,250 |
| Texas | $56,080 | $47,240 | $31,380 – $92,290 | 13,270 |
| Mississippi | $54,850 | $44,790 | $30,900 – $83,850 | 840 |
| Ohio | $53,990 | $44,859 | $38,370 – $89,960 | 4,000 |
| Alaska | $52,190 | $44,115 | $39,170 – $91,520 | 680 |
| Indiana | $52,190 | $42,605 | $30,930 – $82,430 | 1,940 |
| Idaho | $52,000 | $42,314 | $33,590 – $83,240 | 550 |
| South Dakota | $48,470 | $41,126 | $37,450 – $57,820 | 300 |
| Kentucky | $48,070 | $39,239 | $31,550 – $88,410 | 1,790 |
| Iowa | $47,990 | $39,568 | $36,770 – $74,730 | 1,640 |
| Arkansas | $46,170 | $37,690 | $33,500 – $87,730 | 880 |
| Louisiana | $45,570 | $37,815 | $32,320 – $86,750 | 1,990 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make?
The national median salary for chefs and head cooks is $62,470 a year ($30.03 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $37,900 and the top 10% earn over $98,560. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays chefs and head cooks the most?
Rhode Island has the highest median pay at $79,930. After taxes and local prices, Albany, NY offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many chefs and head cooks are there in the U.S.?
About 200,040 people work as chefs and head cooks nationwide.
All 74 cities
- Albany, NY
- Allentown, PA
- Atlanta, GA
- Atlantic City, NJ
- Austin, TX
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Bridgeport, CT
- Buffalo, NY
- Cape Coral, FL
- Charleston, SC
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Des Moines, IA
- Detroit, MI
- Fresno, CA
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Hartford, CT
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Jacksonville, FL
- Kansas City, MO
- Knoxville, TN
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Louisville, KY
- Memphis, TN
- Miami, FL
- Milwaukee, WI
- Minneapolis, MN
- Naples, FL
- Nashville, TN
- New Haven, CT
- New Orleans, LA
- New York, NY
- North Port, FL
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Orlando, FL
- Oxnard, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, ME
- Portland, OR
- Providence, RI
- Raleigh, NC
- Richmond, VA
- Riverside, CA
- Rochester, NY
- Sacramento, CA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Santa Maria, CA
- Santa Rosa, CA
- Scranton, PA
- Seattle, WA
- St. Louis, MO
- Tampa, FL
- Trenton, NJ
- Tucson, AZ
- Tulsa, OK
- Urban Honolulu, HI
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Washington, DC
- Worcester, MA