Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for chefs and head cooks in the U.S. is $62,470 ($30.03 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $62,470
- Mean annual wage
- $66,700
- Median hourly wage
- $30.03
- Employment
- 200,040
200,040 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,900 | $18.22 |
| 25th percentile | $48,440 | $23.29 |
| Median (50th) | $62,470 | $30.03 |
| 75th percentile | $78,750 | $37.86 |
| 90th percentile | $98,560 | $47.39 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 | 740 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 | 1,240 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 | 2,020 |
| Washington | $76,010 | 5,320 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 | 100 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 | 9,100 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 | 240 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 | 2,650 |
| New York | $70,670 | 17,430 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 | 3,820 |
Lowest-paying states
- Louisiana: $45,570 median annual wage
- Arkansas: $46,170 median annual wage
- Iowa: $47,990 median annual wage
- Kentucky: $48,070 median annual wage
- South Dakota: $48,470 median annual wage
About this occupation
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 tasks
- Plan, direct, or supervise food preparation or cooking activities of multiple kitchens or restaurants in an establishment such as a restaurant chain, hospital, or hotel.
- Supervise or coordinate activities of cooks or workers engaged in food preparation.
- Analyze recipes to assign prices to menu items, based on food, labor, and overhead costs.
- Instruct cooks or other workers in the preparation, cooking, garnishing, or presentation of food.
- Meet with customers to discuss menus for special occasions, such as weddings, parties, or banquets.
- Record production or operational data on specified forms.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 17.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 31.8% |
| Some college, no degree | 20.4% |
| Associate's degree | 16.2% |
| Bachelor's degree | 11.7% |
| Master's degree | 1.9% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.7% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.