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Executive chef salary
Average executive chef salary
$59,416
Understanding Executive Chef Salaries
The role of an Executive Chef encompasses overseeing kitchen operations, menu creation, and staff management. As of October 2025, the average salary for Executive Chefs stands at $59,416 annually. This figure can vary significantly based on a range of factors, including the restaurant's location, the chef's years of experience, and the type of culinary establishment.
Salary Breakdown by State
Executive Chefs in states like California and New York typically earn higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for high-quality culinary experiences. In comparison, states with lower living costs may offer lower average salaries.
Opportunities for Advancement
Gaining experience in various kitchen roles can lead to higher earnings over time. Specialized training and certifications also enhance career prospects, enabling chefs to command higher wages. Additionally, fine dining restaurants often provide the best compensation packages for Executive Chefs.
Conclusion
Overall, the Executive Chef position offers a competitive salary with opportunities for growth and advancement. Understanding the factors that influence salary can help aspiring chefs make informed career decisions.
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Where can an Executive Chef earn more?
Executive chef salary estimates from across the web
Average executive chef salary by state
The average executive chef salary in Hawaii, California, and New Jersey are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average executive chef salary states are Idaho, Montana, and Alaska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for executive chefs
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $69,572 | $33.45 |
| 2 | Nevada | $68,037 | $32.71 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $71,960 | $34.60 |
| 4 | Delaware | $68,673 | $33.02 |
| 5 | Vermont | $66,440 | $31.94 |
| 6 | Washington | $66,492 | $31.97 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $68,299 | $32.84 |
| 8 | Hawaii | $79,287 | $38.12 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $63,137 | $30.35 |
| 10 | Illinois | $61,401 | $29.52 |
| 11 | Texas | $58,441 | $28.10 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $58,094 | $27.93 |
| 13 | California | $72,275 | $34.75 |
| 14 | Virginia | $60,188 | $28.94 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $60,679 | $29.17 |
| 16 | Maryland | $64,324 | $30.93 |
| 17 | Maine | $60,280 | $28.98 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $59,316 | $28.52 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $58,356 | $28.06 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $69,287 | $33.31 |
| 21 | Missouri | $56,537 | $27.18 |
| 22 | Michigan | $57,838 | $27.81 |
| 23 | Florida | $56,026 | $26.94 |
| 24 | Georgia | $54,989 | $26.44 |
| 25 | Arizona | $52,572 | $25.27 |
| 26 | Colorado | $53,198 | $25.58 |
| 27 | Oregon | $59,619 | $28.66 |
| 28 | Kansas | $55,139 | $26.51 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $52,267 | $25.13 |
| 30 | New York | $60,858 | $29.26 |
| 31 | Ohio | $53,074 | $25.52 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $55,308 | $26.59 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $55,685 | $26.77 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $52,267 | $25.13 |
| 35 | Indiana | $52,937 | $25.45 |
| 36 | Alabama | $50,713 | $24.38 |
| 37 | Connecticut | $49,290 | $23.70 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $50,401 | $24.23 |
| 39 | Utah | $44,533 | $21.41 |
| 40 | Alaska | $44,759 | $21.52 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $49,532 | $23.81 |
| 42 | Montana | $44,783 | $21.53 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | $48,017 | $23.09 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $46,609 | $22.41 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $50,526 | $24.29 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $48,321 | $23.23 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $33,638 | $16.17 |
| 48 | Idaho | $45,142 | $21.70 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $47,035 | $22.61 |
| 50 | Iowa | $45,389 | $21.82 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $42,881 | $20.62 |
Highest paying cities for executive chefs
The highest-paying cities for executive chefs are San Francisco, CA, Boston, MA, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $75,757 | $36.42 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $69,553 | $33.44 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $69,347 | $33.34 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $67,885 | $32.64 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $66,827 | $32.13 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $64,584 | $31.05 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $63,722 | $30.64 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $61,621 | $29.63 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $61,084 | $29.37 |
| 10 | Arlington, VA | $60,941 | $29.30 |
| 11 | Portland, ME | $60,732 | $29.20 |
| 12 | Houston, TX | $59,273 | $28.50 |
| 13 | Portland, OR | $59,011 | $28.37 |
| 14 | Miami, FL | $57,860 | $27.82 |
| 15 | Saint Louis, MO | $56,844 | $27.33 |
| 16 | Charlotte, NC | $56,723 | $27.27 |
| 17 | Kansas City, KS | $55,235 | $26.56 |
| 18 | Columbus, GA | $55,005 | $26.44 |
| 19 | Cleveland, OH | $54,550 | $26.23 |
| 20 | Colorado Springs, CO | $53,645 | $25.79 |
Executive Chefs are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Executive chef salary details
An executive chef's salary ranges from $40,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $87,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an executive chef's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $87,000 | $7,250 | $42 |
| 75th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
| Average | $59,416 | $4,951 | $29 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
Highest paying executive chef jobs
The highest paying types of executive chefs are chef manager, chef de cuisine, and private chef.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front Of House Manager | $41,163 | $3,430 | $19.79 | 221,210 |
| Chef/Kitchen Manager | $49,415 | $4,118 | $23.76 | 38,242 |
| Food And Beverage Supervisor | $38,335 | $3,195 | $18.43 | 61,726 |
| Food Service Coordinator | $32,085 | $2,674 | $15.43 | 79,537 |
| Chef De Cuisine | $51,926 | $4,327 | $24.96 | 18,300 |
| Chef De Partie | $39,938 | $3,328 | $19.20 | 18,913 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for executive chefs, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Patti Stobaugh
Top companies hiring executive chefs now:
Which companies pay executive chefs the most?
Executive chef salaries at Bridgewater Associates and RH are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average executive chef salary at companies like The Osborn and Neiman Marcus Group are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridgewater Associates | $118,651 | $57.04 |
| 2 | RH | $107,299 | $51.59 |
| 3 | The Osborn | $93,152 | $44.78 |
| 4 | Neiman Marcus Group | $88,082 | $42.35 |
| 5 | Stanford University | $86,286 | $41.48 |
| 6 | Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego | $85,811 | $41.26 |
| 7 | 2k | $84,378 | $40.57 |
| 8 | Club | $83,966 | $40.37 |
| 9 | Sun-Mar | $83,725 | $40.25 |
| 10 | Norman Regional Health System | $82,594 | $39.71 |
| 11 | Baptist Health Care | $82,484 | $39.66 |
| 12 | Cornell University | $82,419 | $39.62 |
| 13 | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | $82,159 | $39.50 |
| 14 | P.F. Chang's China Bistro | $82,067 | $39.46 |
| 15 | The Next Level | $80,130 | $38.52 |
| 16 | GPAC | $79,824 | $38.38 |
| 17 | Memorial Healthcare | $79,024 | $37.99 |
| 18 | Resorts World Catskills | $78,419 | $37.70 |
| 19 | Tenet Healthcare | $78,327 | $37.66 |
| 20 | J.F. Shea Co | $78,208 | $37.60 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Executive chef salary trends
The average executive chef salary has risen by $12,277 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average executive chef earned $47,139 annually, but today, they earn $59,416 a year. That works out to a 24% change in pay for executive chefs over the last decade.
Compare executive chef salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average executive chef salary over time
Compare executive chef salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Executive chef salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $59,400 | $28.57 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $57,400 | $27.58 | +6.0% |
| 2023 | $53,900 | $25.93 | +5.2% |
| 2022 | $51,100 | $24.59 | +6.0% |
| 2021 | $48,100 | $23.11 | +3.9% |
Recently added executive chef salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Executive Chef I-K12 Food Service | Cranston, RI | 06/30/2025 | $75,000 |
| Sonesta Hotels | Executive Sous Chef | Chicago, IL | 06/30/2025 | $75,000 |
| Sonesta Hotels | Executive Chef | DuPont, WA | 06/30/2025 | $115,000 |
| MBK Real Estate | Executive Chef | Bellevue, WA | 06/30/2025 | $85,000 |
| Shaner Hotels | Executive Chef | INN at Bellefield | Hyde Park, NY | 06/29/2025 | $70,000 |
| Brightview Senior Living | Executive Chef | Billerica, MA | 06/29/2025 | $64,697 |
| Dig | Executive Chef | Bridgewater, NJ | 06/29/2025 | $80,000 |
| Get It-Hospitality | Executive Chef-Remote | WFH | Browning, MT | 06/29/2025 | $60,000 |
| Stellar Senior Living [Parent | Executive Chef | Marana, AZ | 06/29/2025 | $57,000 |
| Aramark | Executive Chef-Bradenton Area Convention Center | Bradenton, FL | 06/28/2025 | $90,000 |
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