Chefs and head cooks salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,900 | $18.22 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $62,470 | $30.03 |
| Mean (average) | $66,700 | $32.07 |
| 90th percentile | $98,560 | $47.39 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Chefs and head cooks pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 53 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $62,400 | $39,940 | $85,990 | 1,000 | 0.37 |
| Alaska | $52,190 | $39,170 | $91,520 | 680 | 1.61 |
| Arizona | $59,890 | $33,970 | $95,240 | 4,080 | 0.98 |
| Arkansas | $46,170 | $33,500 | $87,730 | 880 | 0.53 |
| California | $64,500 | $37,380 | $101,870 | 31,670 | 1.35 |
| Colorado | $65,400 | $46,330 | $93,270 | 3,970 | 1.07 |
| Connecticut | $64,310 | $44,530 | $99,870 | 3,080 | 1.41 |
| Delaware | $61,440 | $49,920 | $84,680 | 590 | 0.95 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 | $56,570 | $104,660 | 2,020 | 2.23 |
| Florida | $58,240 | $31,920 | $92,300 | 19,670 | 1.54 |
| Georgia | $66,230 | $43,300 | $100,970 | 3,680 | 0.58 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 | $48,970 | $118,000 | 1,240 | 1.53 |
| Idaho | $52,000 | $33,590 | $83,240 | 550 | 0.5 |
| Illinois | $58,830 | $40,330 | $88,420 | 8,290 | 1.06 |
| Indiana | $52,190 | $30,930 | $82,430 | 1,940 | 0.47 |
| Iowa | $47,990 | $36,770 | $74,730 | 1,640 | 0.82 |
| Kansas | $58,390 | $36,540 | $89,990 | 860 | 0.46 |
| Kentucky | $48,070 | $31,550 | $88,410 | 1,790 | 0.7 |
| Louisiana | $45,570 | $32,320 | $86,750 | 1,990 | 0.8 |
| Maine | $57,010 | $48,430 | $81,120 | 1,250 | 1.52 |
| Maryland | $61,590 | $38,310 | $100,330 | 3,220 | 0.91 |
| Massachusetts | $69,540 | $47,460 | $99,270 | 6,000 | 1.28 |
| Michigan | $60,070 | $42,170 | $82,000 | 5,360 | 0.95 |
| Minnesota | $62,600 | $48,400 | $95,890 | 1,730 | 0.45 |
| Mississippi | $54,850 | $30,900 | $83,850 | 840 | 0.56 |
| Missouri | $64,480 | $39,650 | $91,500 | 1,750 | 0.46 |
| Montana | $57,470 | $38,200 | $80,180 | 720 | 1.09 |
| Nebraska | $60,510 | $39,650 | $99,990 | 540 | 0.41 |
| Nevada | $62,380 | $36,410 | $100,980 | 3,940 | 1.97 |
| New Hampshire | $63,400 | $40,220 | $95,990 | 1,170 | 1.33 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 | $49,200 | $100,100 | 9,100 | 1.65 |
| New Mexico | $62,250 | $43,370 | $100,010 | 770 | 0.69 |
| New York | $70,670 | $46,260 | $120,370 | 17,430 | 1.4 |
| North Carolina | $61,130 | $38,210 | $92,210 | 4,920 | 0.77 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 | $48,240 | $85,190 | 100 | 0.19 |
| Ohio | $53,990 | $38,370 | $89,960 | 4,000 | 0.56 |
| Oklahoma | $58,540 | $28,920 | $77,450 | 1,430 | 0.65 |
| Oregon | $63,600 | $45,910 | $95,180 | 2,510 | 0.99 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,860 | $39,040 | $95,830 | 9,170 | 1.18 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,800 | $23,730 | $68,580 | 770 | 0.64 |
| Rhode Island | $79,930 | $56,680 | $127,080 | 740 | 1.15 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 | $47,640 | $88,880 | 2,650 | 0.89 |
| South Dakota | $48,470 | $37,450 | $57,820 | 300 | 0.51 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 | $45,410 | $98,860 | 3,820 | 0.91 |
| Texas | $56,080 | $31,380 | $92,290 | 13,270 | 0.73 |
| Utah | $59,060 | $27,940 | $79,420 | 1,740 | 0.78 |
| Vermont | $65,440 | $48,950 | $83,040 | 610 | 1.56 |
| Virgin Islands | $63,960 | $37,270 | $103,350 | 260 | 6.24 |
| Virginia | $63,270 | $43,010 | $90,470 | 3,600 | 0.68 |
| Washington | $76,010 | $49,920 | $95,990 | 5,320 | 1.16 |
| West Virginia | $61,100 | $40,520 | $88,690 | 350 | 0.38 |
| Wisconsin | $61,300 | $41,990 | $87,570 | 1,860 | 0.49 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 | $48,460 | $98,580 | 240 | 0.67 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for chefs and head cooks
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 25,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 6.8%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for chefs and head cooks
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Cooking and Related Culinary Arts, General CIP 12.0500
- Baking and Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef CIP 12.0501
- Culinary Arts/Chef Training CIP 12.0503
- Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager CIP 12.0504
- Culinary Science/Culinology CIP 12.0509
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Google Sheets (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- ADP eTIME
- Axxya Systems Nutritionist Pro
- Barrington Software CookenPro Commercial
- CostGuard
- Culinary Software Services ChefTec
- Delphi Technology
- EGS CALCMENU
- Email software
- Enggist & Grandjean EGS F&B Control
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management, Management of Personnel Resources, Service Orientation, Instructing.
Common job titles: Banquet Chef, Chef, Cook, Executive Chef (Ex Chef), Executive Pastry Chef, Executive Sous Chef, Food and Beverage Director, Head Cook, Kitchen Manager, Sous Chef.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make?
The national median annual wage for chefs and head cooks was $62,470 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $37,900 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $98,560. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do chefs and head cooks need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with 5 years or more of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is chefs and head cooks a growing career?
BLS projects employment of chefs and head cooks to change +6.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 25,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay chefs and head cooks the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Rhode Island ($79,930), Hawaii ($77,360), District of Columbia ($76,420). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.