Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in the United States
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for chefs and head cooks in the United States was $62,470 ($30.03 per hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES survey.
Annual Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,900 | $18.22 |
| 25th | $48,440 | $23.29 |
| Median | $62,470 | $30.03 |
| 75th | $78,750 | $37.86 |
| 90th | $98,560 | $47.39 |
Quick Facts
- Occupational code: 35-1011
- Total U.S. employment: 200,040
- Jobs per 1,000: —
- Hourly salary breakdown
- All-state comparison
What this means
Across the United States, 200,040 chefs and head cooks are employed (— per 1,000 jobs), making this one of the larger occupations in the national economy.
At $30.03 per hour, a full-time schedule (2,080 hours per year) works out to roughly $62,462 — in line with the reported median annual wage of $62,470.
Chefs and Head Cooks Salary by State
The table below ranks every state by median annual wage. Click a state for detailed local data.
| State | Median Annual | Median Hourly | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $62,400 | $30.00 | -0.1% | 1,000 |
| Alaska | $52,190 | $25.09 | -16.5% | 680 |
| Arizona | $59,890 | $28.79 | -4.1% | 4,080 |
| Arkansas | $46,170 | $22.20 | -26.1% | 880 |
| California | $64,500 | $31.01 | +3.2% | 31,670 |
| Colorado | $65,400 | $31.44 | +4.7% | 3,970 |
| Connecticut | $64,310 | $30.92 | +2.9% | 3,080 |
| Delaware | $61,440 | $29.54 | -1.6% | 590 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 | $36.74 | +22.3% | 2,020 |
| Florida | $58,240 | $28.00 | -6.8% | 19,670 |
| Georgia | $66,230 | $31.84 | +6.0% | 3,680 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 | $37.19 | +23.8% | 1,240 |
| Idaho | $52,000 | $25.00 | -16.8% | 550 |
| Illinois | $58,830 | $28.29 | -5.8% | 8,290 |
| Indiana | $52,190 | $25.09 | -16.5% | 1,940 |
| Iowa | $47,990 | $23.07 | -23.2% | 1,640 |
| Kansas | $58,390 | $28.07 | -6.5% | 860 |
| Kentucky | $48,070 | $23.11 | -23.1% | 1,790 |
| Louisiana | $45,570 | $21.91 | -27.1% | 1,990 |
| Maine | $57,010 | $27.41 | -8.7% | 1,250 |
| Maryland | $61,590 | $29.61 | -1.4% | 3,220 |
| Massachusetts | $69,540 | $33.43 | +11.3% | 6,000 |
| Michigan | $60,070 | $28.88 | -3.8% | 5,360 |
| Minnesota | $62,600 | $30.10 | +0.2% | 1,730 |
| Mississippi | $54,850 | $26.37 | -12.2% | 840 |
| Missouri | $64,480 | $31.00 | +3.2% | 1,750 |
| Montana | $57,470 | $27.63 | -8.0% | 720 |
| Nebraska | $60,510 | $29.09 | -3.1% | 540 |
| Nevada | $62,380 | $29.99 | -0.1% | 3,940 |
| New Hampshire | $63,400 | $30.48 | +1.5% | 1,170 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 | $35.71 | +18.9% | 9,100 |
| New Mexico | $62,250 | $29.93 | -0.4% | 770 |
| New York | $70,670 | $33.98 | +13.1% | 17,430 |
| North Carolina | $61,130 | $29.39 | -2.1% | 4,920 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 | $35.93 | +19.6% | 100 |
| Ohio | $53,990 | $25.96 | -13.6% | 4,000 |
| Oklahoma | $58,540 | $28.14 | -6.3% | 1,430 |
| Oregon | $63,600 | $30.58 | +1.8% | 2,510 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,860 | $30.70 | +2.2% | 9,170 |
| Rhode Island | $79,930 | $38.43 | +27.9% | 740 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 | $34.55 | +15.0% | 2,650 |
| South Dakota | $48,470 | $23.30 | -22.4% | 300 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 | $33.56 | +11.7% | 3,820 |
| Texas | $56,080 | $26.96 | -10.2% | 13,270 |
| Utah | $59,060 | $28.39 | -5.5% | 1,740 |
| Vermont | $65,440 | $31.46 | +4.8% | 610 |
| Virginia | $63,270 | $30.42 | +1.3% | 3,600 |
| Washington | $76,010 | $36.54 | +21.7% | 5,320 |
| West Virginia | $61,100 | $29.38 | -2.2% | 350 |
| Wisconsin | $61,300 | $29.47 | -1.9% | 1,860 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 | $35.18 | +17.1% | 240 |
Data source: BLS OES state file · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
Related Occupations
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $36,780/yr
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,390/yr
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators — $44,650/yr
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $63,970/yr
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $50,670/yr
- Security Guards — $38,020/yr
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for chefs and head cooks?
The median annual wage for chefs and head cooks is $62,470 ($30.03 per hour), according to the BLS OES survey for May 2025.
Which state pays chefs and head cooks the most?
Wages vary by state. Use the state table above to compare median annual pay across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
How many chefs and head cooks are employed in the U.S.?
There are approximately 200,040 chefs and head cooks employed nationally, per BLS OES.
How much do chefs and head cooks make per hour?
The median hourly wage is $30.03. See the hourly salary page for the full percentile breakdown.