Chefs and head cooks oversee food preparation in restaurants and other food service establishments, creating menus, managing kitchen staff, and ensuring high-quality dishes are served to customers.
This article will explore the best states for chefs and head cooks, based on the average annual salary for the occupation.
- 1. Hawaii ($83,600)
- 2. Rhode Island ($81,070)
- 3. New York ($75,940)
- 4. Massachusetts ($72,780)
- 5. District of Columbia ($70,950)
- 6. California ($69,000)
- 7. New Jersey ($67,850)
- 8. Washington ($66,330)
- 9. Colorado ($65,200)
- 10. Arizona ($64,910)
- Conclusion
Key Takeaways
- The highest-paid chefs and head cooks are in Hawaii, where they earn an average of $83,600 per year.
- The lowest-paid chefs and head cooks are in Puerto Rico, where they earn an average of $37,190 per year.
- The U.S. average salary for chefs and head cooks is $56,735 per year.
1. Hawaii ($83,600)
Chefs and Head Cooks in Hawaii earn the highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
chefs and head cooks in Hawaii is
$83,600, which is +47% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $83,600 |
| 10th Percentile | $47,900 |
| 25th Percentile | $67,660 |
| 75th Percentile | $88,870 |
| 90th Percentile | $112,340 |
2. Rhode Island ($81,070)
Chefs and Head Cooks in Rhode Island earn the 2nd highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
chefs and head cooks in Rhode Island is
$81,070, which is +43% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $81,070 |
| 10th Percentile | $41,590 |
| 25th Percentile | $54,750 |
| 75th Percentile | $102,340 |
| 90th Percentile | $120,620 |
3. New York ($75,940)
Chefs and Head Cooks in New York earn the 3rd highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
chefs and head cooks in New York is
$75,940, which is +34% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $75,940 |
| 10th Percentile | $43,330 |
| 25th Percentile | $54,080 |
| 75th Percentile | $88,380 |
| 90th Percentile | $113,360 |
4. Massachusetts ($72,780)
Chefs and Head Cooks in Massachusetts earn the 4th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
chefs and head cooks in Massachusetts is
$72,780, which is +28% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $72,780 |
| 10th Percentile | $45,830 |
| 25th Percentile | $55,630 |
| 75th Percentile | $83,960 |
| 90th Percentile | $99,000 |
5. District of Columbia ($70,950)
Chefs and Head Cooks in District of Columbia earn the 5th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
chefs and head cooks in District of Columbia is
$70,950, which is +25% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $70,950 |
| 10th Percentile | $49,340 |
| 25th Percentile | $49,340 |
| 75th Percentile | $77,870 |
| 90th Percentile | $101,980 |
6. California ($69,000)
Chefs and Head Cooks in California earn the 6th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
chefs and head cooks in California is
$69,000, which is +22% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $69,000 |
| 10th Percentile | $41,770 |
| 25th Percentile | $49,470 |
| 75th Percentile | $79,700 |
| 90th Percentile | $102,320 |
7. New Jersey ($67,850)
Chefs and Head Cooks in New Jersey earn the 7th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
chefs and head cooks in New Jersey is
$67,850, which is +20% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $67,850 |
| 10th Percentile | $33,280 |
| 25th Percentile | $52,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $77,840 |
| 90th Percentile | $106,960 |
8. Washington ($66,330)
Chefs and Head Cooks in Washington earn the 8th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
chefs and head cooks in Washington is
$66,330, which is +17% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $66,330 |
| 10th Percentile | $44,720 |
| 25th Percentile | $52,350 |
| 75th Percentile | $76,250 |
| 90th Percentile | $84,010 |
9. Colorado ($65,200)
Chefs and Head Cooks in Colorado earn the 9th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
chefs and head cooks in Colorado is
$65,200, which is +15% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $65,200 |
| 10th Percentile | $43,700 |
| 25th Percentile | $49,120 |
| 75th Percentile | $70,020 |
| 90th Percentile | $85,300 |
10. Arizona ($64,910)
Chefs and Head Cooks in Arizona earn the 10th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
chefs and head cooks in Arizona is
$64,910, which is +14% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $64,910 |
| 10th Percentile | $38,130 |
| 25th Percentile | $46,220 |
| 75th Percentile | $76,450 |
| 90th Percentile | $96,350 |
Conclusion
The highest-paid chefs and head cooks are in Hawaii, where they earn an average of $83,600 per year. The lowest-paid chefs and head cooks are in Puerto Rico, where they earn an average of $37,190 per year. The U.S. average salary for chefs and head cooks is $56,735 per year and there are 161,050 jobs in the field.
