35 Series · SOC 35-1011
Chefs and Head Cooks Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $62,470
- Median / year
- +2.4%
- 2024→2025
- $98,560
- Top 10% earn
- +7.1%
- Growth '24–'34
- 200,040
- Estimated US jobs
Chefs and Head Cooks earn a median of $62,470 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $62,470, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $37,900 (10th percentile) to $98,560 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 200,040 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Rhode Island ($79,930).
The pay verdict
Chefs and Head Cooks earn a median of $62,470, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 52% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Food Preparation and Serving Related, it ranks #1 of 17 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 7.1% by 2034.
- $62,470
- Median annual wage
- Top 48%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #1 of 17
- in Food Preparation and Serving Related
- 2.6×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Rhode Island at $79,930. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Observed pay change
What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025
- The published national median for Chefs and Head Cooks moved from $51,530 in May 2019 to $62,470 in May 2025 (+21.2%).
- Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
- Chefs and Head Cooks sits -3.2 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.
Chefs and Head Cooks (SOC 35-1011) has a national median of $62,470 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $37,900 to $98,560, and the published mean is $66,700. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 200,040 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 53 state or territory areas and 459 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $60,990 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $62,470 in May 2025, a rise of $1,480 (+2.4%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +7.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as faster than average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 24,400 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry and 5 years or more as the typical related-work-experience category. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Rhode Island pays the highest state median at $79,930, which is +28% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Terre Haute, IN at $85,920. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
Median Salary
$62,470
per year
Median Hourly
$30.03/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$66,700
average
Employment
200,040
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Chefs and Head Cooks pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$62,470 Top 48% higher than 52% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 (this entry) | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$62,470 · 52nd percentile of 825 US occupations
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 35-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Chefs and Head Cooks; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Read the chart as text
- Fast Food and Counte…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.1%, Median annual wage $31200
- Waiters and Waitresses: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.7%, Median annual wage $35230
- Cooks, Restaurant: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 14.9%, Median annual wage $37390
- First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6%, Median annual wage $44080
- Food Preparation Wor…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.4%, Median annual wage $35320
- Bartenders: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.9%, Median annual wage $34340
- Cooks, Fast Food: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -13.5%, Median annual wage $30890
- Dining Room and Cafe…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.3%, Median annual wage $33980
- Dishwashers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.2%, Median annual wage $34810
- Cooks, Institution a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2%, Median annual wage $37450
- Hosts and Hostesses,…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1.5%, Median annual wage $31200
- Food Servers, Nonres…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3%, Median annual wage $35360
- Chefs and Head Cooks: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.1%, Median annual wage $62470
- Cooks, Short Order: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -5.6%, Median annual wage $35880
- Food Preparation and…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $35840
- Cooks, All Other: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.5%, Median annual wage $37690
- Cooks, Private House…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.1%, Median annual wage $47940
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+7.1%
Faster than average
Annual Openings
24,400
per year (projected)
Employment Change
+14,000
197,300 (2024) → 211,300 (2034)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience
5 years or more
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations context
Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade
Fatality Rate
0.6/100K
Injury Rate
2.4/100
Danger Index
9.9/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Chefs and Head Cooks roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Monitor sanitation practices to ensure that employees follow standards and regulations.
- ▸ Instruct cooks or other workers in the preparation, cooking, garnishing, or presentation of food.
- ▸ Supervise or coordinate activities of cooks or workers engaged in food preparation.
- ▸ Order or requisition food or other supplies needed to ensure efficient operation.
- ▸ Inspect supplies, equipment, or work areas to ensure conformance to established standards.
- ▸ Check the quantity and quality of received products.
- ▸ Check the quality of raw or cooked food products to ensure that standards are met.
- ▸ Estimate amounts and costs of required supplies, such as food and ingredients.
- ▸ Coordinate planning, budgeting, or purchasing for all the food operations within establishments such as clubs, hotels, or restaurant chains.
- ▸ Analyze recipes to assign prices to menu items, based on food, labor, and overhead costs.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
Chefs and Head Cooks pay history, 2015–2025
Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $41,500 |
| 2016 | $43,180 |
| 2017 | $45,950 |
| 2018 | $48,460 |
| 2019 | $51,530 |
| 2020 | $53,380 |
| 2021 | $50,160 |
| 2022 | $56,520 |
| 2023 | $58,920 |
| 2024 | $60,990 |
| 2025 | $62,470 |
2015 median
$41,500
2025 median
$62,470
2019–2025 change (same SOC)
+$10,940 (+21.2%)
Avg/year (same SOC)
+3.3%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2015 | $41,500 | First banked release | 129,370 |
| May 2016 | $43,180 | +4.0% | 134,190 |
| May 2017 | $45,950 | +6.4% | 131,430 |
| May 2018 | $48,460 | +5.5% | 128,600 |
| May 2019 | $51,530 | Classification break | 128,190 |
| May 2020 | $53,380 | +3.6% | 101,490 |
| May 2021 | $50,160 | -6.0% | 129,810 |
| May 2022 | $56,520 | +12.7% | 160,190 |
| May 2023 | $58,920 | +4.2% | 172,370 |
| May 2024 | $60,990 | +3.5% | 182,320 |
| May 2025 | $62,470 | +2.4% | 200,040 |
Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $41,500 in May 2015 to $62,470 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +3.3% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 128,190 in May 2019 to 200,040 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 53 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $79,930 | +28% above national |
| 2 | Hawaii | $77,360 | +24% above national |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $76,420 | +22% above national |
| 4 | Washington | $76,010 | +22% above national |
| 5 | North Dakota | $74,740 | +20% above national |
| 6 | New Jersey | $74,280 | +19% above national |
| 7 | Wyoming | $73,170 | +17% above national |
| 8 | South Carolina | $71,860 | +15% above national |
| 9 | New York | $70,670 | +13% above national |
| 10 | Tennessee | $69,810 | +12% above national |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $69,540 | +11% above national |
| 12 | Georgia | $66,230 | +6% above national |
| 13 | Vermont | $65,440 | +5% above national |
| 14 | Colorado | $65,400 | +5% above national |
| 15 | California | $64,500 | +3% above national |
| 16 | Missouri | $64,480 | +3% above national |
| 17 | Connecticut | $64,310 | +3% above national |
| 18 | Virgin Islands | $63,960 | +2% above national |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $63,860 | +2% above national |
| 20 | Oregon | $63,600 | +2% above national |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $63,400 | +1% above national |
| 22 | Virginia | $63,270 | +1% above national |
| 23 | Minnesota | $62,600 | same as national |
| 24 | Alabama | $62,400 | same as national |
| 25 | Nevada | $62,380 | same as national |
| 26 | New Mexico | $62,250 | same as national |
| 27 | Maryland | $61,590 | 1% below national |
| 28 | Delaware | $61,440 | 2% below national |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $61,300 | 2% below national |
| 30 | North Carolina | $61,130 | 2% below national |
| 31 | West Virginia | $61,100 | 2% below national |
| 32 | Nebraska | $60,510 | 3% below national |
| 33 | Michigan | $60,070 | 4% below national |
| 34 | Arizona | $59,890 | 4% below national |
| 35 | Utah | $59,060 | 5% below national |
| 36 | Illinois | $58,830 | 6% below national |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $58,540 | 6% below national |
| 38 | Kansas | $58,390 | 7% below national |
| 39 | Florida | $58,240 | 7% below national |
| 40 | Montana | $57,470 | 8% below national |
| 41 | Maine | $57,010 | 9% below national |
| 42 | Texas | $56,080 | 10% below national |
| 43 | Mississippi | $54,850 | 12% below national |
| 44 | Ohio | $53,990 | 14% below national |
| 45 | Alaska | $52,190 | 16% below national |
| 46 | Indiana | $52,190 | 16% below national |
| 47 | Idaho | $52,000 | 17% below national |
| 48 | South Dakota | $48,470 | 22% below national |
| 49 | Kentucky | $48,070 | 23% below national |
| 50 | Iowa | $47,990 | 23% below national |
| 51 | Arkansas | $46,170 | 26% below national |
| 52 | Louisiana | $45,570 | 27% below national |
| 53 | Puerto Rico | $30,800 | 51% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 340 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Terre Haute, IN | $85,920 | +38% above national |
| 2 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $84,990 | +36% above national |
| 3 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $84,430 | +35% above national |
| 4 | Morgantown, WV | $81,330 | +30% above national |
| 5 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $80,330 | +29% above national |
| 6 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $79,340 | +27% above national |
| 7 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $79,020 | +26% above national |
| 8 | Napa, CA | $78,960 | +26% above national |
| 9 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $75,740 | +21% above national |
| 10 | Vineland, NJ | $75,050 | +20% above national |
| 11 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $74,940 | +20% above national |
| 12 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $74,900 | +20% above national |
| 13 | Kingston, NY | $74,710 | +20% above national |
| 14 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $74,660 | +20% above national |
| 15 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $74,380 | +19% above national |
| 16 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $74,290 | +19% above national |
| 17 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $74,210 | +19% above national |
| 18 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $73,750 | +18% above national |
| 19 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $73,690 | +18% above national |
| 20 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $73,690 | +18% above national |
| 21 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $73,570 | +18% above national |
| 22 | Spartanburg, SC | $72,670 | +16% above national |
| 23 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $72,470 | +16% above national |
| 24 | Salinas, CA | $72,440 | +16% above national |
| 25 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $72,340 | +16% above national |
| 26 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $72,270 | +16% above national |
| 27 | Santa Fe, NM | $72,020 | +15% above national |
| 28 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $71,780 | +15% above national |
| 29 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $71,700 | +15% above national |
| 30 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $71,540 | +15% above national |
| 31 | Gainesville, GA | $70,780 | +13% above national |
| 32 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $70,420 | +13% above national |
| 33 | Bellingham, WA | $70,410 | +13% above national |
| 34 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $70,210 | +12% above national |
| 35 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $69,990 | +12% above national |
| 36 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $69,920 | +12% above national |
| 37 | Columbia, SC | $69,820 | +12% above national |
| 38 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $69,680 | +12% above national |
| 39 | Jackson, TN | $69,280 | +11% above national |
| 40 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $68,970 | +10% above national |
| 41 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $68,830 | +10% above national |
| 42 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $68,830 | +10% above national |
| 43 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $68,830 | +10% above national |
| 44 | Walla Walla, WA | $68,120 | +9% above national |
| 45 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $68,070 | +9% above national |
| 46 | Barnstable Town, MA | $67,700 | +8% above national |
| 47 | Glens Falls, NY | $67,590 | +8% above national |
| 48 | Florence, SC | $67,550 | +8% above national |
| 49 | Warner Robins, GA | $67,530 | +8% above national |
| 50 | Springfield, MO | $67,460 | +8% above national |
| 51 | Sandusky, OH | $67,190 | +8% above national |
| 52 | Reading, PA | $66,980 | +7% above national |
| 53 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $66,970 | +7% above national |
| 54 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $66,930 | +7% above national |
| 55 | New Haven, CT | $66,700 | +7% above national |
| 56 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $66,450 | +6% above national |
| 57 | Pittsburgh, PA | $66,320 | +6% above national |
| 58 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $66,230 | +6% above national |
| 59 | Dalton, GA | $66,090 | +6% above national |
| 60 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $66,090 | +6% above national |
| 61 | Rochester, NY | $66,080 | +6% above national |
| 62 | Wausau, WI | $65,910 | +6% above national |
| 63 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $65,900 | +5% above national |
| 64 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $65,690 | +5% above national |
| 65 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $65,680 | +5% above national |
| 66 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $65,060 | +4% above national |
| 67 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $65,030 | +4% above national |
| 68 | Sumter, SC | $65,020 | +4% above national |
| 69 | Medford, OR | $64,700 | +4% above national |
| 70 | Worcester, MA | $64,620 | +3% above national |
| 71 | Jackson, MS | $64,480 | +3% above national |
| 72 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $64,480 | +3% above national |
| 73 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $64,480 | +3% above national |
| 74 | Madison, WI | $64,300 | +3% above national |
| 75 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $64,260 | +3% above national |
| 76 | Syracuse, NY | $64,170 | +3% above national |
| 77 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $64,100 | +3% above national |
| 78 | Ithaca, NY | $64,010 | +2% above national |
| 79 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $64,010 | +2% above national |
| 80 | Huntsville, AL | $64,000 | +2% above national |
| 81 | Springfield, MA | $64,000 | +2% above national |
| 82 | Salem, OR | $63,750 | +2% above national |
| 83 | Savannah, GA | $63,700 | +2% above national |
| 84 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $63,690 | +2% above national |
| 85 | Sheboygan, WI | $63,430 | +2% above national |
| 86 | Elmira, NY | $63,410 | +2% above national |
| 87 | Harrisonburg, VA | $63,270 | +1% above national |
| 88 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $63,260 | +1% above national |
| 89 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $63,240 | +1% above national |
| 90 | Vallejo, CA | $63,230 | +1% above national |
| 91 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $63,220 | +1% above national |
| 92 | Oklahoma City, OK | $63,160 | +1% above national |
| 93 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $63,080 | +1% above national |
| 94 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $63,050 | +1% above national |
| 95 | Binghamton, NY | $63,010 | +1% above national |
| 96 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $62,960 | +1% above national |
| 97 | Columbus, GA-AL | $62,920 | +1% above national |
| 98 | Yakima, WA | $62,920 | +1% above national |
| 99 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $62,820 | +1% above national |
| 100 | Knoxville, TN | $62,770 | same as national |
| 101 | Birmingham, AL | $62,760 | same as national |
| 102 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $62,740 | same as national |
| 103 | Greeley, CO | $62,730 | same as national |
| 104 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $62,620 | same as national |
| 105 | Rochester, MN | $62,520 | same as national |
| 106 | Bozeman, MT | $62,460 | same as national |
| 107 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $62,400 | same as national |
| 108 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $62,380 | same as national |
| 109 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $62,260 | same as national |
| 110 | Omaha, NE-IA | $62,240 | same as national |
| 111 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $62,220 | same as national |
| 112 | Appleton, WI | $62,200 | same as national |
| 113 | Cleveland, TN | $62,180 | same as national |
| 114 | Bend, OR | $62,110 | 1% below national |
| 115 | Reno, NV | $62,070 | 1% below national |
| 116 | Charlottesville, VA | $61,990 | 1% below national |
| 117 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $61,890 | 1% below national |
| 118 | Fresno, CA | $61,870 | 1% below national |
| 119 | Grand Junction, CO | $61,810 | 1% below national |
| 120 | Boulder, CO | $61,740 | 1% below national |
| 121 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $61,600 | 1% below national |
| 122 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $61,580 | 1% below national |
| 123 | Pittsfield, MA | $61,580 | 1% below national |
| 124 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $61,400 | 2% below national |
| 125 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $61,390 | 2% below national |
| 126 | Modesto, CA | $61,330 | 2% below national |
| 127 | Montgomery, AL | $61,330 | 2% below national |
| 128 | Morristown, TN | $61,290 | 2% below national |
| 129 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $61,190 | 2% below national |
| 130 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $61,090 | 2% below national |
| 131 | Utica-Rome, NY | $61,090 | 2% below national |
| 132 | Las Cruces, NM | $61,030 | 2% below national |
| 133 | Ann Arbor, MI | $60,910 | 2% below national |
| 134 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $60,890 | 3% below national |
| 135 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $60,880 | 3% below national |
| 136 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $60,870 | 3% below national |
| 137 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $60,770 | 3% below national |
| 138 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $60,750 | 3% below national |
| 139 | Pueblo, CO | $60,710 | 3% below national |
| 140 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $60,600 | 3% below national |
| 141 | St. Cloud, MN | $60,500 | 3% below national |
| 142 | Greenville, NC | $60,400 | 3% below national |
| 143 | Asheville, NC | $60,390 | 3% below national |
| 144 | Billings, MT | $60,200 | 4% below national |
| 145 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $60,180 | 4% below national |
| 146 | Mankato, MN | $60,050 | 4% below national |
| 147 | Albuquerque, NM | $60,040 | 4% below national |
| 148 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $60,030 | 4% below national |
| 149 | Dover, DE | $59,990 | 4% below national |
| 150 | Johnson City, TN | $59,990 | 4% below national |
| 151 | Chambersburg, PA | $59,950 | 4% below national |
| 152 | Columbus, OH | $59,830 | 4% below national |
| 153 | Richmond, VA | $59,730 | 4% below national |
| 154 | Midland, MI | $59,700 | 4% below national |
| 155 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $59,690 | 4% below national |
| 156 | Lincoln, NE | $59,680 | 4% below national |
| 157 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $59,640 | 5% below national |
| 158 | Albany, GA | $59,540 | 5% below national |
| 159 | Battle Creek, MI | $59,540 | 5% below national |
| 160 | Kenosha, WI | $59,530 | 5% below national |
| 161 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $59,510 | 5% below national |
| 162 | Jackson, MI | $59,510 | 5% below national |
| 163 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $59,510 | 5% below national |
| 164 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $59,480 | 5% below national |
| 165 | Salisbury, MD | $59,470 | 5% below national |
| 166 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $59,400 | 5% below national |
| 167 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $59,390 | 5% below national |
| 168 | Flagstaff, AZ | $59,380 | 5% below national |
| 169 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $59,290 | 5% below national |
| 170 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $59,280 | 5% below national |
| 171 | Eau Claire, WI | $59,240 | 5% below national |
| 172 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $59,190 | 5% below national |
| 173 | Colorado Springs, CO | $59,180 | 5% below national |
| 174 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $59,160 | 5% below national |
| 175 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $59,080 | 5% below national |
| 176 | Lexington Park, MD | $58,820 | 6% below national |
| 177 | Niles, MI | $58,570 | 6% below national |
| 178 | State College, PA | $58,560 | 6% below national |
| 179 | Green Bay, WI | $58,480 | 6% below national |
| 180 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $58,440 | 6% below national |
| 181 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $58,300 | 7% below national |
| 182 | Corvallis, OR | $58,240 | 7% below national |
| 183 | Hot Springs, AR | $58,240 | 7% below national |
| 184 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $58,240 | 7% below national |
| 185 | Mobile, AL | $58,130 | 7% below national |
| 186 | Wilmington, NC | $58,120 | 7% below national |
| 187 | Midland, TX | $58,100 | 7% below national |
| 188 | Lancaster, PA | $58,040 | 7% below national |
| 189 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $57,990 | 7% below national |
| 190 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $57,940 | 7% below national |
| 191 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $57,920 | 7% below national |
| 192 | Rocky Mount, NC | $57,920 | 7% below national |
| 193 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $57,870 | 7% below national |
| 194 | Fayetteville, NC | $57,830 | 7% below national |
| 195 | Flint, MI | $57,800 | 7% below national |
| 196 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $57,730 | 8% below national |
| 197 | Visalia, CA | $57,600 | 8% below national |
| 198 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $57,540 | 8% below national |
| 199 | Helena, MT | $57,510 | 8% below national |
| 200 | Merced, CA | $57,500 | 8% below national |
| 201 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $57,380 | 8% below national |
| 202 | Roanoke, VA | $57,350 | 8% below national |
| 203 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $57,220 | 8% below national |
| 204 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $57,180 | 8% below national |
| 205 | Missoula, MT | $57,170 | 8% below national |
| 206 | Cleveland, OH | $57,020 | 9% below national |
| 207 | Traverse City, MI | $57,000 | 9% below national |
| 208 | Lubbock, TX | $56,950 | 9% below national |
| 209 | Lynchburg, VA | $56,930 | 9% below national |
| 210 | York-Hanover, PA | $56,860 | 9% below national |
| 211 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $56,830 | 9% below national |
| 212 | Duluth, MN-WI | $56,790 | 9% below national |
| 213 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $56,790 | 9% below national |
| 214 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $56,620 | 9% below national |
| 215 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $56,580 | 9% below national |
| 216 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $56,580 | 9% below national |
| 217 | Redding, CA | $56,550 | 9% below national |
| 218 | Johnstown, PA | $56,440 | 10% below national |
| 219 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $56,440 | 10% below national |
| 220 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $56,220 | 10% below national |
| 221 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $56,130 | 10% below national |
| 222 | Chico, CA | $55,990 | 10% below national |
| 223 | Bloomington, IL | $55,700 | 11% below national |
| 224 | Winston-Salem, NC | $55,550 | 11% below national |
| 225 | Ocala, FL | $55,540 | 11% below national |
| 226 | Burlington, NC | $55,530 | 11% below national |
| 227 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $55,360 | 11% below national |
| 228 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $55,210 | 12% below national |
| 229 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $55,130 | 12% below national |
| 230 | Akron, OH | $55,060 | 12% below national |
| 231 | Jacksonville, FL | $55,060 | 12% below national |
| 232 | Topeka, KS | $55,030 | 12% below national |
| 233 | Bangor, ME | $54,990 | 12% below national |
| 234 | Tulsa, OK | $54,930 | 12% below national |
| 235 | Hattiesburg, MS | $54,870 | 12% below national |
| 236 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $54,400 | 13% below national |
| 237 | Fargo, ND-MN | $54,390 | 13% below national |
| 238 | Punta Gorda, FL | $54,340 | 13% below national |
| 239 | Ogden, UT | $54,260 | 13% below national |
| 240 | Winchester, VA-WV | $54,110 | 13% below national |
| 241 | Bowling Green, KY | $54,080 | 13% below national |
| 242 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $53,570 | 14% below national |
| 243 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $53,240 | 15% below national |
| 244 | Tallahassee, FL | $53,060 | 15% below national |
| 245 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $53,000 | 15% below national |
| 246 | Jonesboro, AR | $52,970 | 15% below national |
| 247 | Columbia, MO | $52,870 | 15% below national |
| 248 | Lebanon, PA | $52,870 | 15% below national |
| 249 | Bloomington, IN | $52,760 | 16% below national |
| 250 | Sebring, FL | $52,760 | 16% below national |
| 251 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $52,110 | 17% below national |
| 252 | Tyler, TX | $52,050 | 17% below national |
| 253 | Gettysburg, PA | $52,000 | 17% below national |
| 254 | Saginaw, MI | $51,430 | 18% below national |
| 255 | Ames, IA | $51,360 | 18% below national |
| 256 | Erie, PA | $51,340 | 18% below national |
| 257 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $51,240 | 18% below national |
| 258 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $51,230 | 18% below national |
| 259 | Logan, UT-ID | $51,220 | 18% below national |
| 260 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $51,210 | 18% below national |
| 261 | Toledo, OH | $50,790 | 19% below national |
| 262 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $50,720 | 19% below national |
| 263 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $50,330 | 19% below national |
| 264 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $50,270 | 20% below national |
| 265 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $50,220 | 20% below national |
| 266 | San Angelo, TX | $50,190 | 20% below national |
| 267 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $50,150 | 20% below national |
| 268 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $50,080 | 20% below national |
| 269 | Tucson, AZ | $49,990 | 20% below national |
| 270 | Odessa, TX | $49,820 | 20% below national |
| 271 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $49,730 | 20% below national |
| 272 | Laredo, TX | $49,670 | 20% below national |
| 273 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $49,660 | 21% below national |
| 274 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $49,590 | 21% below national |
| 275 | Fort Wayne, IN | $49,490 | 21% below national |
| 276 | Wichita, KS | $49,440 | 21% below national |
| 277 | Bay City, MI | $49,310 | 21% below national |
| 278 | Anchorage, AK | $49,190 | 21% below national |
| 279 | Altoona, PA | $49,040 | 21% below national |
| 280 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $49,010 | 22% below national |
| 281 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $48,900 | 22% below national |
| 282 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $48,850 | 22% below national |
| 283 | Iowa City, IA | $48,760 | 22% below national |
| 284 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $48,710 | 22% below national |
| 285 | Idaho Falls, ID | $48,670 | 22% below national |
| 286 | Manhattan, KS | $48,640 | 22% below national |
| 287 | Yuma, AZ | $48,590 | 22% below national |
| 288 | Rapid City, SD | $48,350 | 23% below national |
| 289 | Springfield, IL | $48,100 | 23% below national |
| 290 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $48,040 | 23% below national |
| 291 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $47,850 | 23% below national |
| 292 | Abilene, TX | $47,840 | 23% below national |
| 293 | Williamsport, PA | $47,840 | 23% below national |
| 294 | Peoria, IL | $47,800 | 23% below national |
| 295 | Rockford, IL | $47,740 | 24% below national |
| 296 | Dubuque, IA | $47,690 | 24% below national |
| 297 | Alexandria, LA | $47,670 | 24% below national |
| 298 | Owensboro, KY | $47,620 | 24% below national |
| 299 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $47,580 | 24% below national |
| 300 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $47,540 | 24% below national |
| 301 | Boise City, ID | $47,500 | 24% below national |
| 302 | Gainesville, FL | $47,380 | 24% below national |
| 303 | Kankakee, IL | $47,160 | 25% below national |
| 304 | Longview, TX | $46,870 | 25% below national |
| 305 | St. George, UT | $46,610 | 25% below national |
| 306 | Evansville, IN | $46,480 | 26% below national |
| 307 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $46,400 | 26% below national |
| 308 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $46,310 | 26% below national |
| 309 | Corpus Christi, TX | $46,150 | 26% below national |
| 310 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $45,800 | 27% below national |
| 311 | Baton Rouge, LA | $45,570 | 27% below national |
| 312 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $45,400 | 27% below national |
| 313 | Amarillo, TX | $45,370 | 27% below national |
| 314 | Lima, OH | $45,270 | 28% below national |
| 315 | Paducah, KY-IL | $44,720 | 28% below national |
| 316 | Lawrence, KS | $44,700 | 28% below national |
| 317 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $44,610 | 29% below national |
| 318 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $44,480 | 29% below national |
| 319 | Yuba City, CA | $44,340 | 29% below national |
| 320 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $44,050 | 29% below national |
| 321 | Lake Charles, LA | $43,520 | 30% below national |
| 322 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $43,240 | 31% below national |
| 323 | El Paso, TX | $43,020 | 31% below national |
| 324 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $43,020 | 31% below national |
| 325 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $42,930 | 31% below national |
| 326 | Hammond, LA | $42,680 | 32% below national |
| 327 | Waco, TX | $42,660 | 32% below national |
| 328 | Lafayette, LA | $42,060 | 33% below national |
| 329 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $41,680 | 33% below national |
| 330 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $40,300 | 35% below national |
| 331 | Monroe, LA | $39,990 | 36% below national |
| 332 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $39,140 | 37% below national |
| 333 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $38,560 | 38% below national |
| 334 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $38,470 | 38% below national |
| 335 | Muncie, IN | $37,920 | 39% below national |
| 336 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $37,570 | 40% below national |
| 337 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $35,990 | 42% below national |
| 338 | Aguadilla, PR | $31,060 | 50% below national |
| 339 | Ponce, PR | $30,800 | 51% below national |
| 340 | Mayaguez, PR | $26,440 | 58% below national |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 35 (Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Bartenders
SOC 35-3011
Cooks, All Other
SOC 35-2019
Cooks, Fast Food
SOC 35-2011
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
SOC 35-2012
Cooks, Private Household
SOC 35-2013
Showing 5 of 16 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($62,470 here) and reported employment (200,040 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make? ▼
Where does Chefs and Head Cooks pay rank nationally? ▼
What state pays Chefs and Head Cooks the most? ▼
What education do Chefs and Head Cooks need? ▼
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Chefs and Head Cooks? ▼
Is Chefs and Head Cooks a good career? ▼
How does Chefs and Head Cooks pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Chefs and Head Cooks? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Chefs and Head Cooks pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $78,750/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Rhode Island leads at $79,930/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.