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Chef Salary in the United States in 2025

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Find out how your salary compares to the average salary.
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How much does a earn in per hour?

The hourly rate for a in is currently $0. This does not include tips, bonuses or other performance-based incentives offered by the establishment they're employed in.

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The average monthly salary for a in is $0.

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Based on the hourly and monthly salaries above, the average salary per week in is currently $0.

How Can I Earn More Money as a in ?

The easiest way to earn more money as a is to ask for a raise or a promotion. To do that, you’ll need to be prepared to discuss with your employer about why you deserve a raise.

To help you out, we've got a list of interview questions and answers that you can use to come up with your own answers when you’re asking for a raise.

What Skills Are Employers Looking for in a in ?

You can see what employers want in a Pastry Chef in Chicago if you take a look at a sample job description. In it, you’ll find the most common skills, abilities and experience requirements for this role.

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]

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]

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.

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% of U.S. Median Salary
69.72%

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.

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.

[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.

Seven factors that influence Chef salary

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 table below for the average annual Chef salaries per state.

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:

Well-renowned Chefs with OysterLink interviews including Robb Garceau, Mat Meyer and Hanalei Souza

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?

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.