How Much Does a Chef Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$62,470
Chefs in the U.S. earn a median of $62,470 a year, or $30.03 an hour. Half of chefs earn more than $62,470 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $98,560.
Pay percentiles for chefs
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $18.22 | $37,900 |
| 25th | $23.29 | $48,440 |
| 50th (median) | $30.03 | $62,470 |
| 75th | $37.86 | $78,750 |
| 90th | $47.39 | $98,560 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Chefs and Head Cooks (SOC 35-1011). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for chefs
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 | $38.43 | +28% |
| Hawaii | $77,360 | $37.19 | +24% |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 | $36.74 | +22% |
| Washington | $76,010 | $36.54 | +22% |
| North Dakota | $74,740 | $35.93 | +20% |
| New Jersey | $74,280 | $35.71 | +19% |
| Wyoming | $73,170 | $35.18 | +17% |
| South Carolina | $71,860 | $34.55 | +15% |
| New York | $70,670 | $33.98 | +13% |
| Tennessee | $69,810 | $33.56 | +12% |
| United States | $62,470 | $30.03 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many chefs are there?
BLS counts about 200,040 chefs employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Chefs and Head Cooks”. The most jobs are in California (31,670), Florida (19,670) and New York (17,430).
The mean (average) annual wage is $66,700, higher than the median of $62,470.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $5,206
- Biweekly
- $2,403
- Weekly
- $1,201
- Daily (8 hours)
- $240
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do chefs make an hour?
The median hourly wage for chefs is $30.03. The middle 50% earn between $23.29 and $37.86 an hour.
Which state pays chefs the most?
Rhode Island has the highest median wage for chefs at $79,930, +28% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for chefs?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of chefs earn less than $37,900 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.