Chef and Head Cook Salary in Denver, CO
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $66,970 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $53,705 take-home, or $4,475 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chef and head cook salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,903
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,152
- Medicare (1.45%)$971
- Colorado income tax$2,238
- Take-home pay$53,705
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.40% state
Chef and Head Cook pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,890 | $23.99 | $40,780 | $3,398 |
| 25th percentile | $59,480 | $28.60 | $48,063 | $4,005 |
| Median (50th) | $66,970 | $32.20 | $53,705 | $4,475 |
| 75th percentile | $80,920 | $38.90 | $62,905 | $5,242 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,410 | $46.83 | $73,780 | $6,148 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $66,970 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chef and head cook's $53,705 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,770 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 Denver, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for chefs and head cooks, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #35 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 |
| 35 | Denver, CO | $66,970 | $53,705 | $50,770 |
*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 Colorado
- Colorado Springs, CO — $59,180
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make in Denver, CO?
The median chef and head cook salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $66,970 a year, or about $32.20 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,480 and $80,920.
What is a chef and head cook’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $66,970 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $53,705 a year ($4,475 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,238 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a chef and head cook?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $62,470. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,770 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #35 of 74 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chef and head cook afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median chef and head cook’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $52,520
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $45,070
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,370
- Cooks, Short Order — $44,200
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $39,850
- Waiter and Waitress — $39,650
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,470
- Dishwasher — $38,710
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,530
- Bartender — $37,180
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $37,070
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $36,880