Chef and Head Cook Salary in Buffalo, NY
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $74,290 a year — 19% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $57,678 take-home, or $4,807 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chef and head cook salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,514
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,606
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,077
- New York income tax$3,415
- Take-home pay$57,678
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.40% state
Chef and Head Cook pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,500 | $23.32 | $39,128 | $3,261 |
| 25th percentile | $59,010 | $28.37 | $47,005 | $3,917 |
| Median (50th) | $74,290 | $35.72 | $57,678 | $4,807 |
| 75th percentile | $92,080 | $44.27 | $69,216 | $5,768 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,510 | $49.76 | $76,582 | $6,382 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $74,290 buys in Buffalo, NY
Prices in Buffalo, NY are 4.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 19% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chef and head cook's $57,678 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,179 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chef and Head Cook jobs are about as common in Buffalo, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for chefs and head cooks, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #4 of 74 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albany, NY | $84,430 | $64,264 | $64,544 |
| 2 | Providence, RI | $79,340 | $62,287 | $61,202 |
| 3 | Nashville, TN | $70,420 | $58,370 | $60,589 |
| 4 | Buffalo, NY | $74,290 | $57,678 | $60,179 |
| 5 | Atlantic City, NJ | $75,740 | $59,476 | $60,164 |
| 6 | Memphis, TN | $66,230 | $55,396 | $60,096 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $80,330 | $65,342 | $58,796 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $74,660 | $58,101 | $58,068 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 74 metros →
Chef and Head Cook salaries elsewhere in New York
- Albany, NY — $84,430
- Rochester, NY — $66,080
- New York, NY — $71,780
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make in Buffalo, NY?
The median chef and head cook salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $74,290 a year, or about $35.72 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,010 and $92,080.
What is a chef and head cook’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $74,290 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $57,678 a year ($4,807 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,415 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a chef and head cook?
Pay here is 19% above the national median of $62,470. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,179 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #4 of 74 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chef and head cook afford rent in Buffalo, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Buffalo, NY is $1,139 a month ($1,343 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median chef and head cook’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Buffalo, NY
- Bartender — $46,920
- Waiter and Waitress — $46,580
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,720
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $41,860
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,060
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $35,140
- Dishwasher — $35,080
- Cooks, Short Order — $34,730
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,700
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,560
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,190
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $33,860