Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Chefs and head cooks (SOC 35-1011) employed 200,040 people in May 2025. The median pay is $62,470 a year ($30.03 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $37,900 and the highest-paid 10% more than $98,560. BLS projects its employment to change by +6.6% between 2025 and 2035 (about 25,200 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: High school diploma or equivalent, with 5 years or more experience in a related occupation.
Highest median pay: Rhode Island ($79,930), Hawaii ($77,360), District of Columbia ($76,420). Most jobs: California (31,670), Florida (19,670), New York (17,430).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,900 | $18.22 |
| 25th percentile | $48,440 | $23.29 |
| Median | $62,470 | $30.03 |
| Mean | $66,700 | $32.07 |
| 75th percentile | $78,750 | $37.86 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $98,560 | $47.38 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 220,300 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 234,700 |
| Change in jobs | 14,400 |
| Percent change | +6.6% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 25,200 |
| Self-employed share | 6.8% |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work experience in a related occupation | 5 years or more |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1,000 | 0.37 | $62,400 | $39,940 | $85,990 | -0% | 21% |
| Alaska | 680 | 1.61 | $52,190 | $39,170 | $91,520 | -16% | 33% |
| Arizona | 4,080 | 0.98 | $59,890 | $33,970 | $95,240 | -4% | 34% |
| Arkansas | 880 | 0.53 | $46,170 | $33,500 | $87,730 | -26% | 26% |
| California | 31,670 | 1.35 | $64,500 | $37,380 | $101,870 | +3% | 39% |
| Colorado | 3,970 | 1.07 | $65,400 | $46,330 | $93,270 | +5% | 33% |
| Connecticut | 3,080 | 1.41 | $64,310 | $44,530 | $99,870 | +3% | 29% |
| Delaware | 590 | 0.95 | $61,440 | $49,920 | $84,680 | -2% | 30% |
| District of Columbia | 2,020 | 2.23 | $76,420 | $56,570 | $104,660 | +22% | 30% |
| Florida | 19,670 | 1.54 | $58,240 | $31,920 | $92,300 | -7% | 37% |
| Georgia | 3,680 | 0.58 | $66,230 | $43,300 | $100,970 | +6% | 27% |
| Hawaii | 1,240 | 1.53 | $77,360 | $48,970 | $118,000 | +24% | 30% |
| Idaho | 550 | 0.50 | $52,000 | $33,590 | $83,240 | -17% | 32% |
| Illinois | 8,290 | 1.06 | $58,830 | $40,330 | $88,420 | -6% | 27% |
| Indiana | 1,940 | 0.47 | $52,190 | $30,930 | $82,430 | -16% | 25% |
| Iowa | 1,640 | 0.82 | $47,990 | $36,770 | $74,730 | -23% | 25% |
| Kansas | 860 | 0.46 | $58,390 | $36,540 | $89,990 | -7% | 22% |
| Kentucky | 1,790 | 0.70 | $48,070 | $31,550 | $88,410 | -23% | 25% |
| Louisiana | 1,990 | 0.80 | $45,570 | $32,320 | $86,750 | -27% | 28% |
| Maine | 1,250 | 1.52 | $57,010 | $48,430 | $81,120 | -9% | 25% |
| Maryland | 3,220 | 0.91 | $61,590 | $38,310 | $100,330 | -1% | 34% |
| Massachusetts | 6,000 | 1.28 | $69,540 | $47,460 | $99,270 | +11% | 32% |
| Michigan | 5,360 | 0.95 | $60,070 | $42,170 | $82,000 | -4% | 23% |
| Minnesota | 1,730 | 0.45 | $62,600 | $48,400 | $95,890 | +0% | 25% |
| Mississippi | 840 | 0.56 | $54,850 | $30,900 | $83,850 | -12% | 22% |
| Missouri | 1,750 | 0.46 | $64,480 | $39,650 | $91,500 | +3% | 20% |
| Montana | 720 | 1.09 | $57,470 | $38,200 | $80,180 | -8% | 25% |
| Nebraska | 540 | 0.41 | $60,510 | $39,650 | $99,990 | -3% | 22% |
| Nevada | 3,940 | 1.97 | $62,380 | $36,410 | $100,980 | -0% | 33% |
| New Hampshire | 1,170 | 1.33 | $63,400 | $40,220 | $95,990 | +1% | 29% |
| New Jersey | 9,100 | 1.65 | $74,280 | $49,200 | $100,100 | +19% | 29% |
| New Mexico | 770 | 0.69 | $62,250 | $43,370 | $100,010 | -0% | 22% |
| New York | 17,430 | 1.40 | $70,670 | $46,260 | $120,370 | +13% | 28% |
| North Carolina | 4,920 | 0.77 | $61,130 | $38,210 | $92,210 | -2% | 26% |
| North Dakota | 100 | 0.19 | $74,740 | $48,240 | $85,190 | +20% | 16% |
| Ohio | 4,000 | 0.56 | $53,990 | $38,370 | $89,960 | -14% | 24% |
| Oklahoma | 1,430 | 0.65 | $58,540 | $28,920 | $77,450 | -6% | 21% |
| Oregon | 2,510 | 0.99 | $63,600 | $45,910 | $95,180 | +2% | 30% |
| Pennsylvania | 9,170 | 1.18 | $63,860 | $39,040 | $95,830 | +2% | 24% |
| Rhode Island | 740 | 1.15 | $79,930 | $56,680 | $127,080 | +28% | 21% |
| South Carolina | 2,650 | 0.89 | $71,860 | $47,640 | $88,880 | +15% | 21% |
| South Dakota | 300 | 0.51 | $48,470 | $37,450 | $57,820 | -22% | 25% |
| Tennessee | 3,820 | 0.91 | $69,810 | $45,410 | $98,860 | +12% | 22% |
| Texas | 13,270 | 0.73 | $56,080 | $31,380 | $92,290 | -10% | 32% |
| Utah | 1,740 | 0.78 | $59,060 | $27,940 | $79,420 | -5% | 32% |
| Vermont | 610 | 1.56 | $65,440 | $48,950 | $83,040 | +5% | 24% |
| Virginia | 3,600 | 0.68 | $63,270 | $43,010 | $90,470 | +1% | 31% |
| Washington | 5,320 | 1.16 | $76,010 | $49,920 | $95,990 | +22% | 29% |
| West Virginia | 350 | 0.38 | $61,100 | $40,520 | $88,690 | -2% | 17% |
| Wisconsin | 1,860 | 0.49 | $61,300 | $41,990 | $87,570 | -2% | 22% |
| Wyoming | 240 | 0.67 | $73,170 | $48,460 | $98,580 | +17% | 16% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 470 | $84,430 | $51,640 | $96,730 | 0.81 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3,740 | $80,330 | $50,810 | $99,570 | 1.39 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 1,070 | $79,340 | $49,340 | $117,920 | 1.16 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,280 | $79,020 | $46,590 | $117,340 | 0.87 |
| Napa, CA | 300 | $78,960 | $44,390 | $136,010 | 3.01 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 900 | $75,740 | $50,500 | $95,530 | 4.15 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 4,680 | $74,900 | $43,110 | $102,870 | 1.16 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 2,370 | $74,660 | $46,260 | $100,970 | 0.64 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 740 | $74,380 | $48,970 | $109,220 | 1.29 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 640 | $74,290 | $48,500 | $103,510 | 0.93 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 770 | $74,210 | $47,480 | $87,600 | 1.53 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 460 | $73,570 | $39,080 | $103,680 | 1.76 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 4,430 | $72,470 | $48,820 | $100,740 | 1.27 |
| Salinas, CA | 360 | $72,440 | $40,150 | $111,730 | 1.49 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 360 | $72,340 | $50,110 | $109,760 | 1.03 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 20,010 | $71,780 | $46,530 | $120,370 | 1.64 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 1,780 | $70,420 | $55,960 | $105,900 | 1.26 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 480 | $70,210 | $34,890 | $107,910 | 1.55 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 11,430 | $69,990 | $37,310 | $102,760 | 1.42 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 360 | $69,680 | $45,640 | $88,680 | 0.64 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 5,340 | $68,970 | $42,860 | $115,170 | 1.75 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | 640 | $68,830 | $36,120 | $121,940 | 2.85 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,820 | $66,970 | $49,890 | $97,410 | 0.88 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 760 | $66,930 | $47,150 | $103,530 | 1.47 |
| New Haven, CT | 460 | $66,700 | $48,270 | $104,180 | 1.27 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,340 | $66,320 | $45,620 | $94,800 | 0.93 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 540 | $66,230 | $42,630 | $98,080 | 0.68 |
| Rochester, NY | 690 | $66,080 | $48,070 | $102,800 | 1.08 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,580 | $65,690 | $47,640 | $95,190 | 1.02 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 5,700 | $65,680 | $43,440 | $104,060 | 1.53 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 520 | $65,060 | $38,280 | $100,880 | 2.00 |
| Worcester, MA | 560 | $64,620 | $45,560 | $91,840 | 1.24 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 2,770 | $64,480 | $37,970 | $96,470 | 1.25 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 1,030 | $64,480 | $42,930 | $95,020 | 0.60 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 1,480 | $64,260 | $46,360 | $92,730 | 0.85 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 3,550 | $64,100 | $42,610 | $99,990 | 0.68 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 890 | $64,010 | $39,650 | $93,930 | 0.63 |
| Springfield, MA | 300 | $64,000 | $44,580 | $89,720 | 1.18 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 340 | $63,260 | $36,440 | $97,040 | 1.34 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1,280 | $63,240 | $49,230 | $96,920 | 0.51 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 570 | $63,220 | $41,450 | $92,430 | 1.17 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 590 | $63,160 | $33,860 | $79,700 | 0.67 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 1,110 | $62,820 | $43,710 | $95,400 | 1.44 |
| Knoxville, TN | 470 | $62,770 | $42,670 | $99,050 | 0.87 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 480 | $62,620 | $36,500 | $96,920 | 1.16 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 1,710 | $62,400 | $42,740 | $93,290 | 1.03 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 3,430 | $62,380 | $36,410 | $101,200 | 2.35 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 330 | $62,240 | $40,720 | $99,990 | 0.51 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | 330 | $62,220 | $43,470 | $98,170 | 2.01 |
| Reno, NV | 350 | $62,070 | $40,560 | $97,710 | 0.98 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 610 | $61,890 | $46,180 | $93,730 | 0.79 |
| Fresno, CA | 490 | $61,870 | $36,900 | $93,480 | 0.80 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 570 | $61,580 | $42,970 | $88,380 | 0.54 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2,870 | $61,400 | $33,970 | $97,730 | 0.94 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 2,360 | $61,390 | $32,690 | $102,410 | 1.30 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 820 | $61,190 | $34,790 | $96,840 | 0.86 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 2,660 | $60,870 | $44,410 | $82,000 | 1.09 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 6,840 | $60,770 | $40,330 | $89,990 | 1.18 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | 450 | $60,750 | $34,060 | $102,470 | 1.38 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 3,890 | $60,600 | $37,440 | $96,740 | 1.97 |
The median is $62,470 a year ($30.03 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,900 and the highest-paid tenth over $98,560 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
200,040 in May 2025, and BLS projects +6.6% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS).
Rhode Island, with a median of $79,930 (among states with published figures).