Chef Salary in the United States in 2024
The average Chef salary in the United States (U.S.) is $62,640 per year. We’ve created this Chef salary guide to help you learn about top salaries, high-paying states and cities, factors that influence Chef salaries and more.
Use our salary comparison tool to know whether your current or desired salary range for your Chef position is within or above the market average.
What could I earn?
Find out how your salary compares to the average Chef salary.Average Chef Base Salary:
What can I earn as Chef? Your salary is $0.00 on the US national average.Chef Salary Trends by Year
The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported Chef salary averages from $36,040 to $93,900 per year, averaging $62,640 plus tips per year. Since 2019, Chef salary averages have shown an increasing trend, rising by 11% since 2019 — despite the slight dip in 2021.
[Source: BLS]
This graph is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the graph to see detailed data.
Average Chef Salary Per Month
Chefs earn an average salary of $5,220 per month. Most establishments follow a monthly (or bi-weekly) timeline for Chefs to receive their pay.
Average Chef Salary Per Week
A freelance or Private Chef can have even more flexible payment schedules as they usually depend on mutual agreements or contracts between the Chef and their client.
Average Chef Salary Per Hour
The hourly pay for Chefs is $30.12, increasing by $3.05 since 2019. This is the national average, ranging from the lowest-paid Chefs’ average of $17.33 to the highest-paid Chefs’ average of $45.14.
[Source: BLS]
This graph is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the graph to see detailed data.
Use our Salary to Hourly Calculator below to learn more about your Chef salary and plan your finances more wisely. All salaries listed in this article were determined using our salary data methodology.
High-Paying States and Districts for Chefs
Location is one of several factors that affect Chef salary. For instance, Hawaii, Rhode Island and Massachusetts are the top three paying states, with annual average salaries of $99,520, $81,170 and $77,120.
This is mainly because of the higher cost of living, including housing, food and services, compared to other states.
Chefs earn $1,204.62 weekly. Some restaurants offer weekly pay instead of monthly, and some even offer daily pay access.
Discover the average Chef salary in all other states in the table below. You can also rearrange the table from highest to lowest salary and vice versa.
| State | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $99,520 |
| Rhode Island | $81,170 |
| Massachusetts | $77,120 |
| District of Columbia | $75,520 |
| New Jersey | $71,100 |
| North Dakota | $70,920 |
| Arizona | $70,130 |
| Colorado | $70,130 |
| New York | $68,410 |
| Washington | $67,360 |
| California | $67,150 |
| Connecticut | $66,950 |
| Illinois | $66,610 |
| New Mexico | $66,610 |
| Maryland | $66,560 |
| Alaska | $65,710 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,940 |
| Vermont | $64,870 |
| Alabama | $64,310 |
| Nevada | $62,020 |
| Florida | $61,880 |
| Nebraska | $61,730 |
| North Carolina | $61,300 |
| Wyoming | $61,080 |
| Wisconsin | $60,570 |
| Minnesota | $60,550 |
| Tennessee | $59,540 |
| Delaware | $58,810 |
| New Hampshire | $58,690 |
| Maine | $58,540 |
| West Virginia | $58,260 |
| Oregon | $58,160 |
| Kansas | $56,990 |
| Michigan | $56,730 |
| Missouri | $56,430 |
| Utah | $56,320 |
| Indiana | $56,180 |
| Georgia | $55,460 |
| South Carolina | $55,240 |
| Arkansas | $55,050 |
| Virginia | $54,950 |
| Ohio | $53,800 |
| Montana | $53,040 |
| Texas | $52,950 |
| Mississippi | $51,830 |
| Idaho | $49,010 |
| Louisiana | $48,930 |
| South Dakota | $47,840 |
| Kentucky | $47,280 |
| Iowa | $46,180 |
| Oklahoma | $39,130 |
Chef Salary in Major US Cities
Among these four major U.S. cities, New York City offers the highest Chef salary average at $70,060 per year, followed by Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami.
Miami
Annual mean wage
$63,130
New York City
Annual mean wage
$70,060
Chicago
Annual mean wage
$68,620
Los Angeles
Annual mean wage
$65,060
[Source: BLS]
7 Factors That Affect Average Chef Salary
Chefs must consider several factors to ensure they get the best salary for their skills and experience. Read on to learn the seven key factors that can influence your Chef’s salary amount.
1. Work location
As mentioned, major cities and top states often pay a higher Chef salary given the higher standards and increased demand for upscale dining experiences. Meanwhile, Chefs in smaller towns or rural areas often earn less.
See the map below for the average annual Chef salaries per state.
[Source: BLS]
This map is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the map to see detailed data.
2. Experience
Your years of experience in the kitchen play a key role in determining your pay. Chefs with more years of experience often command higher salaries. This is also the case for those who have held leadership positions.
Hiring Managers often positively relate experience to a candidate’s skills, knowledge of their job as a Chef and leadership prowess. To really get the highest pay available for Chefs, you need to get ready to invest years into this career.
3. Type of establishment
If you’re working as a Chef in high-end restaurants, luxury hotels or exclusive resorts, you are likely to earn much more money than other Chefs working in casual dining or smaller, independent eateries.
Larger establishments often have larger budgets, a bigger clientele and higher customer expectations — which often translate into higher pay for top talent.
4. Specialization
As a Chef, you need to specialize in certain cuisines or techniques to command higher wages. Having a unique skillset can set you apart from others.
For example, expertise in molecular gastronomy, pastries, sushi or Middle Eastern cuisine enhances your skillset and makes you stand out among other Chefs in the culinary industry looking for employment at high-end restaurants.
Check out our Sushi Chef career guide and our Pastry Chef career guide.
5. Reputation
Chefs who have won awards, received media attention or built a loyal following can often negotiate better salaries. A well-known reputation enhances your brand and can attract higher-paying opportunities.
Discover how some well-renowned Chefs started their careers and steadily built a reputation in the culinary industry in our interviews below:
- Interview with Chef Robb Garceau (Director of Culinary at New York Hospitality Group)
- Interview with Chef Mat Meyer (Head Chef and Founder of Ansley Table)
- Interview with Hanalei Souza (Sous Chef of LADYLINECOOK)
6. Seniority of role
Holding a management position, such as an Executive Chef or Head Chef, typically leads to higher salaries. These roles come with increased responsibilities, including managing staff, planning menus and overseeing kitchen operations.
The added leadership duties justify the much higher salary associated with these positions.
Keep in mind that there are many different types of Chefs, and each has its own set of duties — with higher-level positions requiring a greater sense of responsibility.
7. Education and certifications
Graduating from a prestigious culinary school or earning certifications in food safety, nutrition or specific cooking techniques can make you more competitive in the Chef job market. Employers often reward Chefs with specialized job training, viewing them as more qualified for high-paying roles.
Keep in mind that formal education and certifications only give you a steady foundation. They should be complemented with hands-on experience to become a high-value Chef.
How Much Do High Chef Positions Pay?
If you’re exploring higher-level roles in the culinary field, here are a few to consider, along with their respective salaries. Executive Chefs and Private Chefs are among the highest earners in this profession.
| Job Title | Avg Salary |
|---|---|
| Head Chef | $73,632 |
| Executive Chef | $80,040 |
| Private Chef | $68,493 |
Testimonial From Successful Chef Wissam Baki
What advice would you offer to someone who’s starting out, based on your own early career challenges?
The biggest challenge for everyone in our industry has always been having patience with people. But also, the Chef role involves many aspects — for example, understanding market demands and keeping up with industry trends.
Success in our field is not defined by just making money; true passion and commitment are essential, or you won’t last long in the kitchen.
Read the complete interview with Chef Wissam Baki here.
Chef Salary FAQs
According to the BLS, Chef salaries average $62,640 per year. Salaries for Chefs can vary depending on the type of industry they work in, the tips they receive, their level of experience and their educational background.
Chefs generally do not receive tips. They are provided with a fixed salary depending on their level of experience. However, tipping practices can vary depending on the restaurant’s policies.
Experienced Chefs command higher salaries given their advanced skills and leadership, which can only be gained through years of experience.
On average, they make between $58,920 and $93,900 per year, putting them in the upper half range of Chef salaries. Their qualifications often allow them to work in high-end restaurants, where their expertise commands even higher pay.
Yes, Chefs working in certain types of establishments or specializing in particular culinary styles may negotiate for higher salaries. For example, Chefs working in fine dining restaurants and luxury hotels often earn higher salaries due to the prestige and clientele associated with these establishments.
Similarly, Chefs with expertise in niche cuisines like Nikkei cuisine or Peruvian-Japanese fusion may have higher earning potential, as their specialized skills are in high demand.
Location plays a significant role in determining Chef salaries, with wages varying widely across different regions of the United States. Generally, Chefs working in metropolitan areas tend to earn higher salaries compared to those in smaller cities.
For example, Chefs working in New York City typically command higher salaries to reflect the higher cost of living and competitive culinary scene.
Chefs have various opportunities to increase their earning potential and diversify their income streams. For example, some Chefs choose to pursue opportunities in culinary education or consulting, where they can teach cooking classes, organize culinary workshops or provide expertise to food-related businesses.
Others may explore entrepreneurial ventures, such as running their own restaurants or food trucks.
Lastly, Chefs may leverage their skills and knowledge to pursue careers in food media, including writing cookbooks, hosting cooking shows, or developing culinary content for online platforms, which can offer additional sources of income and professional fulfillment.
