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Chef salary
Average chef salary
$46,824
Understanding Chef Salaries
The average salary for a chef is $46,824 per year, or about $23 per hour. This figure, however, fluctuates based on several factors including geographical location, years of experience, and the type of establishment. For instance, chefs in metropolitan areas often earn more than those in rural settings due to higher demand and cost of living.
Salary by Experience
Entry-level chefs typically start at lower salaries, around $27,000, while seasoned professionals can earn upwards of $70,000 in high-end restaurants. Gaining experience in specialized cuisines or management roles can significantly impact earning potential.
Where Chefs Earn the Most
States like California, New York, and Florida offer some of the highest salaries for chefs, reflecting the robust culinary scenes and high demand for skilled professionals. By pursuing opportunities in these regions, chefs can maximize their earnings and career growth.
Conclusion
As the culinary landscape evolves, chefs have numerous avenues to explore, from restaurant kitchens to catering services and beyond. Understanding salary trends and career opportunities is essential for anyone looking to succeed in this dynamic field.
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Where can a Chef earn more?
Chef salaries by experience level
Chef salary estimates from across the web
Average chef salary by state
The highest-paying states for chefs are Hawaii, New Jersey, and Washington. The lowest average chef salary states are Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for chefs
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $51,293 | $24.66 |
| 2 | Texas | $52,587 | $25.28 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $66,145 | $31.80 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $51,526 | $24.77 |
| 5 | Georgia | $48,701 | $23.41 |
| 6 | Hawaii | $71,544 | $34.40 |
| 7 | Alaska | $50,304 | $24.18 |
| 8 | Washington | $57,071 | $27.44 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $55,548 | $26.71 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $51,863 | $24.93 |
| 11 | Michigan | $47,395 | $22.79 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | $45,499 | $21.87 |
| 13 | California | $54,271 | $26.09 |
| 14 | Arizona | $47,580 | $22.88 |
| 15 | Illinois | $47,560 | $22.87 |
| 16 | Alabama | $46,431 | $22.32 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $46,088 | $22.16 |
| 18 | Colorado | $45,910 | $22.07 |
| 19 | Delaware | $50,789 | $24.42 |
| 20 | Vermont | $49,964 | $24.02 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $51,291 | $24.66 |
| 22 | Florida | $43,207 | $20.77 |
| 23 | Missouri | $45,055 | $21.66 |
| 24 | Montana | $44,671 | $21.48 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $46,969 | $22.58 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $43,797 | $21.06 |
| 27 | Indiana | $41,629 | $20.01 |
| 28 | Maine | $47,627 | $22.90 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $48,020 | $23.09 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $45,875 | $22.06 |
| 31 | Maryland | $48,353 | $23.25 |
| 32 | Utah | $40,357 | $19.40 |
| 33 | New York | $44,972 | $21.62 |
| 34 | Oregon | $46,135 | $22.18 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $40,241 | $19.35 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $40,324 | $19.39 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $38,504 | $18.51 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $37,252 | $17.91 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $35,248 | $16.95 |
| 40 | Ohio | $36,109 | $17.36 |
| 41 | Virginia | $39,851 | $19.16 |
| 42 | Kansas | $40,345 | $19.40 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $39,324 | $18.91 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $34,789 | $16.73 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $33,257 | $15.99 |
| 46 | Idaho | $35,857 | $17.24 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $27,439 | $13.19 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $34,540 | $16.61 |
| 49 | Wisconsin | $34,164 | $16.43 |
| 50 | Iowa | $33,821 | $16.26 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $34,538 | $16.60 |
Highest paying cities for chefs
The highest-paying cities for chefs are Urban Honolulu, HI, Seattle, WA, and Redwood City, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $71,516 | $34.38 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $57,286 | $27.54 |
| 3 | Redwood City, CA | $55,617 | $26.74 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $55,491 | $26.68 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $53,145 | $25.55 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $52,140 | $25.07 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $51,303 | $24.66 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $51,263 | $24.65 |
| 9 | Columbus, GA | $49,011 | $23.56 |
| 10 | Portland, ME | $48,340 | $23.24 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $47,666 | $22.92 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $47,597 | $22.88 |
| 13 | Denver, CO | $45,825 | $22.03 |
| 14 | Portland, OR | $45,821 | $22.03 |
| 15 | Saint Louis, MO | $45,144 | $21.70 |
| 16 | New York, NY | $45,118 | $21.69 |
| 17 | Miami, FL | $43,734 | $21.03 |
| 18 | Indianapolis, IN | $41,630 | $20.01 |
| 19 | Arlington, VA | $40,646 | $19.54 |
| 20 | Asheville, NC | $40,197 | $19.33 |
Chefs are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Chef salary details
A chef's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $68,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a chef's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| 75th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
| Average | $46,824 | $3,902 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying chef jobs
The highest paying types of chefs are executive chef, chef de cuisine, and private chef.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pastry Cook | $34,858 | $2,905 | $16.76 | 136,754 |
| Line Cook | $32,895 | $2,741 | $15.81 | 168,993 |
| Head Cook | $44,412 | $3,701 | $21.35 | 156,227 |
| Line Cook, Prep Cook | $32,982 | $2,748 | $15.86 | 164,756 |
| Culinary Internship | $31,368 | $2,614 | $15.08 | 93,844 |
| Chef De Cuisine | $51,926 | $4,327 | $24.96 | 18,300 |
Which companies pay chefs the most?
Chef salaries at Bridgewater Associates and Ncar - The National Center For Atmospheric Research are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average chef salary at companies like Life Care Centers of America and Opelousas General Health System are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridgewater Associates | $74,500 | $35.82 |
| 2 | Ncar - The National Center For Atmospheric Research | $70,723 | $34.00 |
| 3 | Life Care Centers of America | $69,164 | $33.25 |
| 4 | Opelousas General Health System | $68,165 | $32.77 |
| 5 | St. Petersburg Yacht Club | $68,053 | $32.72 |
| 6 | NHC | $67,105 | $32.26 |
| 7 | American Bar Association | $64,413 | $30.97 |
| 8 | Club | $61,985 | $29.80 |
| 9 | Encompass Health | $61,391 | $29.51 |
| 10 | Ciena Healthcare | $59,093 | $28.41 |
| 11 | HealthTrust | $58,575 | $28.16 |
| 12 | The Culinary Institute of America | $58,355 | $28.06 |
| 13 | LifePoint Health | $57,780 | $27.78 |
| 14 | Aspen Snowmass | $57,555 | $27.67 |
| 15 | Goodwin Recruiting | $57,372 | $27.58 |
| 16 | Romano's Macaroni Grill | $56,948 | $27.38 |
| 17 | McCalls Catering & Events | $56,888 | $27.35 |
| 18 | Bright Star Schools | $56,631 | $27.23 |
| 19 | Monarch Casino & Resort | $56,412 | $27.12 |
| 20 | Lake Mohawk Golf Club | $56,336 | $27.08 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Chef salary by industry
The average chef salary varies across industries:
- The average chef salary in the health care industry is $46,349, the highest of any industry.
- The average chef salary in the finance industry is $45,408.
- Chefs in the retail industry earn an average salary of $40,116, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for chefs
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care | $46,349 | $22.28 |
| 2 | Hospitality | $45,408 | $21.83 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $44,680 | $21.48 |
| 4 | Retail | $40,116 | $19.29 |
High paying chef jobs
Chef salary trends
The average chef salary has risen by $9,675 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average chef earned $37,149 annually, but today, they earn $46,824 a year. That works out to a 24% change in pay for chefs over the last decade.
Compare chef salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average chef salary over time
Compare chef salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Chef salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $46,800 | $22.51 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $45,200 | $21.73 | +6.0% |
| 2023 | $42,500 | $20.44 | +5.2% |
| 2022 | $40,300 | $19.38 | +6.0% |
| 2021 | $37,900 | $18.21 | +3.9% |
Recently added chef salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dig | Chef Operator | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $80,000 |
| Dig | Chef Operator | Boston, MA | 06/29/2025 | $80,000 |
| Evolve Treatment Centers | Chef | Danville, CA | 06/29/2025 | $62,610 |
| Dig Chefs-In-Training | Chef In Training, Seaport District | Boston, MA | 06/29/2025 | $33,392 |
| xAI | Chef | Palo Alto, CA | 06/29/2025 | $97,000 |
| Sitio de Experiencia de Candidatos | Specialty Chef | Sarasota, FL | 06/29/2025 | $67,000 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Chef | Pittsburgh, PA | 06/28/2025 | $57,393 |
| HEI Hotels & Resorts | Chef of Masa & Agave | Cleveland, OH | 06/28/2025 | $65,000 |
| Columbus Hospitality | Chef Tournant | Centerville, OH | 06/28/2025 | $43,827 |
| Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center | Chef Tournant | Centerville, OH | 06/28/2025 | $43,827 |
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