Chef and Head Cook Salary in Boston, MA
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $72,470 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $56,409 take-home, or $4,701 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chef and head cook salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,113
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,493
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,051
- Massachusetts income tax$3,404
- Take-home pay$56,409
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Chef and Head Cook pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,820 | $23.47 | $39,186 | $3,265 |
| 25th percentile | $56,790 | $27.30 | $45,191 | $3,766 |
| Median (50th) | $72,470 | $34.84 | $56,409 | $4,701 |
| 75th percentile | $85,000 | $40.87 | $64,598 | $5,383 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,740 | $48.43 | $74,884 | $6,240 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $72,470 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chef and head cook's $56,409 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,102 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Boston, MA has 1.3× the national concentration of chef and head cook jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for chefs and head cooks, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #5 of 18 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $80,330 | $65,342 | $58,796 |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | $74,660 | $58,101 | $58,068 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $74,900 | $58,100 | $53,360 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $62,380 | $52,302 | $52,190 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $72,470 | $56,409 | $52,102 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $64,100 | $53,684 | $52,075 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $65,680 | $52,938 | $51,619 |
| 8 | Orlando, FL | $61,390 | $51,507 | $50,787 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 18 metros →
About the job: chefs and head cooks
Direct and may participate in the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. May plan and price menu items, order supplies, and keep records and accounts.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.6% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make in Boston, MA?
The median chef and head cook salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $72,470 a year, or about $34.84 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $56,790 and $85,000.
What is a chef and head cook’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $72,470 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $56,409 a year ($4,701 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,404 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a chef and head cook?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $62,470. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,102 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #5 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chef and head cook afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median chef and head cook’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $48,530
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $47,090
- Cooks, Restaurant — $45,830
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,660
- Cooks, Short Order — $39,600
- Waiter and Waitress — $39,270
- Bartender — $37,760
- Dishwasher — $37,750
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $37,330
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,290
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $35,140
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,780