Chefs and Head Cooks Salary — US State Breakdown (2025)
✓ Sourced directly from BLS OES · Checked for accuracy at every rebuild · Last updated: 2026-09-02
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US Salary Overview
The national median wage for chefs and head cooks in the United States is $62,470 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025) — real government survey data, not an algorithmic salary estimate. Pay ranges from $37,900 at the 10th percentile to $98,560 at the 90th percentile. In the UK, the equivalent occupation (Chefs) has a median of £26,531 — figures are shown in local currency and are not converted. Signing a US offer? Employment contract templates at LawDepot cover offer letters, NDAs and employment agreements.
US Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual (gross) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,900 | Entry level / lowest decile |
| 25th | $48,440 | Early career |
| 50th (median) | $62,470 | Typical pay |
| 75th | $78,750 | Experienced |
| 90th | $98,560 | Senior / highest decile |
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| State | Median salary | Mean salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 | $84,860 | 740 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 | $80,720 | 1,000 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 | $79,660 | 2,000 |
| Washington | $76,010 | $74,670 | 5,000 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 | $68,520 | 100 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 | $72,930 | 9,000 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 | $74,570 | 240 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 | $70,780 | 3,000 |
| New York | $70,670 | $74,840 | 17,000 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 | $70,710 | 4,000 |
| Massachusetts | $69,540 | $73,420 | 6,000 |
| Georgia | $66,230 | $70,450 | 4,000 |
| Vermont | $65,440 | $68,130 | 610 |
| Colorado | $65,400 | $70,320 | 4,000 |
| California | $64,500 | $69,130 | 32,000 |
| Missouri | $64,480 | $66,640 | 2,000 |
| Connecticut | $64,310 | $69,680 | 3,000 |
| Virgin Islands | $63,960 | $69,110 | 260 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,860 | $67,890 | 9,000 |
| Oregon | $63,600 | $67,510 | 3,000 |
| New Hampshire | $63,400 | $66,530 | 1,000 |
| Virginia | $63,270 | $65,320 | 4,000 |
| Minnesota | $62,600 | $66,910 | 2,000 |
| Alabama | $62,400 | $63,720 | 1,000 |
| Nevada | $62,380 | $67,380 | 4,000 |
| New Mexico | $62,250 | $67,080 | 770 |
| Maryland | $61,590 | $65,930 | 3,000 |
| Delaware | $61,440 | $66,590 | 590 |
| Wisconsin | $61,300 | $64,210 | 2,000 |
| North Carolina | $61,130 | $63,960 | 5,000 |
| West Virginia | $61,100 | $64,600 | 350 |
| Nebraska | $60,510 | $66,990 | 540 |
| Michigan | $60,070 | $62,460 | 5,000 |
| Arizona | $59,890 | $60,330 | 4,000 |
| Utah | $59,060 | $58,880 | 2,000 |
| Illinois | $58,830 | $62,810 | 8,000 |
| Oklahoma | $58,540 | $57,190 | 1,000 |
| Kansas | $58,390 | $60,930 | 860 |
| Florida | $58,240 | $61,720 | 20,000 |
| Montana | $57,470 | $61,580 | 720 |
| Maine | $57,010 | $61,540 | 1,000 |
| Texas | $56,080 | $59,350 | 13,000 |
| Mississippi | $54,850 | $56,910 | 840 |
| Ohio | $53,990 | $61,220 | 4,000 |
| Alaska | $52,190 | $59,430 | 680 |
| Indiana | $52,190 | $55,060 | 2,000 |
| Idaho | $52,000 | $57,390 | 550 |
| South Dakota | $48,470 | $47,900 | 300 |
| Kentucky | $48,070 | $55,770 | 2,000 |
| Iowa | $47,990 | $52,840 | 2,000 |
| Arkansas | $46,170 | $53,820 | 880 |
| Louisiana | $45,570 | $52,820 | 2,000 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,800 | $41,480 | 770 |
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How Does This Compare to the UK?
Chefs and Head Cooks is the US equivalent of chefs in the UK, which has a national median of £26,531. Figures are shown in local currency, not converted — cost of living, tax systems and benefits packages differ enough between the two countries that a currency conversion alone would be misleading. See the full UK breakdown, or use our comparison tool to set this role against another job title side by side, with location and experience-level filters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a chefs and head cooks in the US?
The US national median wage for chefs and head cooks is $62,470 per year (gross, before tax), based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
What is the pay range for chefs and head cooks in the US?
Pay ranges from $37,900 at the 10th percentile to $98,560 at the 90th percentile. This difference typically reflects experience level, employer size, and location.
Which US states pay chefs and head cooks the most?
The highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks include Rhode Island ($79,930), Hawaii ($77,360), District of Columbia ($76,420). Pay varies by state due to cost of living, local demand and industry concentration.
How much does chefs and head cooks salary vary by state?
The gap between the highest- and lowest-paying states is significant — Rhode Island ($79,930) pays roughly 160% more than Puerto Rico ($30,800). Check the state breakdown above for the exact figure in your location.
How does chefs and head cooks pay compare between the US and UK?
The UK equivalent role (Chefs) has a national median of £26,531. Figures are shown in local currency rather than converted, since cost of living and tax systems differ enough between the two countries that a straight currency conversion would be misleading.
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Data: BLS OES, May 2025 · ONS ASHE Table 14/15, 2025 provisional · Page built 2026-09-02