Chef and Head Cook Salary in Providence, RI
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area earn a median $79,340 a year — 27% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,287 take-home, or $5,191 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chef and head cook salary in Providence, RI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,625
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,919
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,150
- Rhode Island income tax$2,358
- Take-home pay$62,287
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.75% state
The Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro spans Rhode Island, Massachusetts. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Chef and Head Cook pay by experience in Providence, RI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,340 | $23.72 | $40,591 | $3,383 |
| 25th percentile | $63,690 | $30.62 | $51,583 | $4,299 |
| Median (50th) | $79,340 | $38.14 | $62,287 | $5,191 |
| 75th percentile | $83,310 | $40.05 | $64,931 | $5,411 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $117,920 | $56.69 | $87,787 | $7,316 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Rhode Island resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $79,340 buys in Providence, RI
Prices in Providence, RI are 1.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.04× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chef and head cook's $62,287 take-home pay has the buying power of $61,202 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 Providence, RI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).
Best-paying cities for chefs and head cooks, adjusted for cost of living
Providence, RI ranks #2 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 →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make in Providence, RI?
The median chef and head cook salary in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area is $79,340 a year, or about $38.14 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $63,690 and $83,310.
What is a chef and head cook’s take-home pay in Providence, RI?
On the median $79,340 salary, a single filer living in Rhode Island takes home about $62,287 a year ($5,191 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,358 in Rhode Island taxes in 2026.
Is Providence, RI a good place to work as a chef and head cook?
Pay here is 27% above the national median of $62,470. Local prices are 1.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $61,202 would in a typical U.S. city. Providence, RI ranks #2 of 74 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chef and head cook afford rent in Providence, RI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Providence, RI is $1,423 a month ($1,774 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median chef and head cook’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Providence, RI
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,640
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $46,350
- Cooks, Short Order — $44,050
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,460
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,250
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,750
- Bartender — $35,680
- Cooks, Fast Food — $35,260
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,870
- Dishwasher — $34,640
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,700
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $31,200