Wondering how lucrative being a Private Chef is? This salary guide provides insights into factors that can affect your salary as a Private Chef, tips on how you can increase your take-home pay and answers to frequently asked questions to help you maximize your earnings and be successful in this role.
Please note that Private Chef and Personal Chef are often used interchangeably to describe the same position.
How Much Is the Average Private Chef Salary?
Private Chefs in the United States make an average of $68,493 per year or $5,708 per month. Their salaries can range from $44,474 to $82,995, depending on their level of experience, location and specific employer requirements.
Private Chefs can receive tips that can significantly boost their earnings.
What Is the Hourly Wage for Private Chefs?
Private Chefs make $33 per hour.
What Is the Weekly Wage for Private Chefs?
Private Chefs earn $1,317 a week.
Factors That Influence a Private Chef’s Salary
We discussed each factor in detail to help you strategize how to increase your income.
Level of experience
Private Chefs with one year of experience earn an average of $47,262 per year, while those with fifteen or more years in the role earn $71,683 a year.
More experienced Private Chefs command higher salaries because of their ability to quickly prepare high-quality meals.
If you’re just starting out, ask family and friends if you can cook for them so you can practice. This will help you identify areas where you can be more efficient and speed up your cooking process without compromising quality.
Location
The District of Columbia, Alaska and Hawaii are among the highest-paying areas for Private Chefs. These places have a high cost of living, which drives up wages.
For example, Hawaii, the most expensive state to live in the country, offers Private Chefs an average of $72,918 per year.
In contrast, Florida, despite being home to famous cities such as Tampa, Miami and Orlando, has a lower cost of living. This contributes to the state offering one of the lowest salaries for Private Chefs, which is $52,322 per year.
Explore our map below to see how wages for Private Chefs vary according to location.
This map is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the map to see detailed data.
Specific employer requirements
Special requests such as specific cuisines or meals that cater to dietary restrictions can also increase a Private Chef’s salary.
For instance, preparing meals for clients with diabetes, heart conditions or kidney disease may require more extensive planning and nutritional knowledge. Private Chefs need to spend additional time preparing to ensure the food meets the dietary requirements of the clients.
The quantity of meals a Private Chef is required to prepare can also affect the salary. In our list of jobs, Private Chefs are paid $72,800 to create meals that can feed up to six people.
Finally, if a client needs extra services such as grocery shopping or cleaning the kitchen, Private Chefs can also charge more.
Your Take-Home Pay as a Private Chef
Understanding your take-home pay after taxes is important because it allows you to plan your expenses accordingly.
Since taxes differ per state, we created a Paycheck Calculator that lets you know how much money you’ll receive after taxes depending on the state you’re working in.
To use this calculator, choose the state you’re employed at, pay frequency and your salary.
Total Tax
Net pay
Disclaimer: Please note that this paycheck calculator is designed to provide an estimate and should not be considered as professional tax advice. The actual withholding amounts and taxes owed may vary depending on individual circumstances and other factors. For accurate and personalized tax advice, we recommend consulting with a tax professional.
Private Chef Salary per State
Check out how much Private Chefs make per state using the table below:
| State | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $ 58,252 |
| Alaska | $ 73,137 |
| Arizona | $ 63,675 |
| Arkansas | $ 62,344 |
| California | $ 69,708 |
| Colorado | $ 64,020 |
| Connecticut | $ 59,606 |
| Delaware | $ 67,248 |
| Florida | $ 52,322 |
| Georgia | $ 56,580 |
| Hawaii | $ 72,918 |
| Idaho | $ 56,676 |
| Illinois | $ 61,575 |
| Indiana | $ 62,826 |
| Iowa | $ 61,899 |
| Kansas | $ 59,173 |
| Kentucky | $ 60,962 |
| Louisiana | $ 57,961 |
| Maine | $ 66,115 |
| Maryland | $ 64,037 |
| Massachusetts | $ 69,372 |
| Michigan | $ 59,066 |
| Minnesota | $ 58,197 |
| Mississippi | $ 58,253 |
| Missouri | $ 65,427 |
| Montana | $ 61,155 |
| Nebraska | $ 65,139 |
| Nevada | $ 72,168 |
| New Hampshire | $ 66,323 |
| New Jersey | $ 69,842 |
| New Mexico | $ 62,193 |
| New York | $ 66,545 |
| North Carolina | $ 62,635 |
| North Dakota | $ 62,433 |
| Ohio | $ 63,506 |
| Oklahoma | $ 60,574 |
| Oregon | $ 66,638 |
| Pennsylvania | $ 61,955 |
| Rhode Island | $ 72,806 |
| South Carolina | $ 61,908 |
| South Dakota | $ 65,865 |
| Tennessee | $ 59,519 |
| Texas | $ 59,395 |
| Utah | $ 61,059 |
| Vermont | $ 68,812 |
| Virginia | $ 60,520 |
| Washington | $ 65,405 |
| West Virginia | $ 55,267 |
| Wisconsin | $ 58,287 |
| Wyoming | $ 57,573 |
| District of Columbia | $ 78,060 |
Tips To Consider When Negotiating for Higher Pay as a Private Chef
So, you’ve received a job offer and you’ve evaluated it, but you’re thinking you can negotiate for more pay. Consider following these tips to ask for a higher compensation.
- Highlight good reviews from previous customers: Let your potential employer know that all the clients you’ve worked with enjoyed your meals. Having good reviews reflects your reliability, professionalism and cooking proficiency.
- Share your portfolio: Show photos of your work to demonstrate your attention to detail, commitment to creating aesthetically pleasing food and creativity.
- Look beyond the base salary: Your compensation isn’t just your salary. It also includes non-monetary benefits such as paid time off, 401(k) and life insurance. Aside from helping you with long-term financial planning, it can also improve your overall job satisfaction.
How To Grow as a Private Chef and Increase Your Salary
Here are some key steps you can take to advance in your career and increase your salary.
- Learn different cuisines and how to cater to different dietary restrictions: The more extensive your cooking knowledge is, the more you can charge for your services. Consider undergoing training for special diets such as gluten-free. Many Americans follow a gluten-free diet despite it not being medically required.
- Enhance your communication skills: Being a Private Chef isn’t just about having culinary expertise. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are also crucial in providing the best service to clients.
- Build a network: Attend culinary events and workshops to meet other culinary professionals. Building a network can lead to job opportunities and client referrals.
How Much Do Similar Careers to Private Chefs Get Paid?
Private Chefs in the U.S. earn less than Private Chefs and Executive Chefs but more than Chefs and Line Cooks.
| Job Title | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Line Cook | |
| Chef | |
| Executive Chef |
Private Chef Salary FAQs
We’ve collected salary data of Private Chefs in four major U.S. cities, and here’s what we found:
Clients who typically pay Private Chefs the most are those with specific dietary needs, professionals with busy schedules and elder adults.
Yes, having a culinary degree from a reputable school can impact your base pay. Having a culinary degree shows your commitment to excellence, boosts your credibility and provides you with skills and knowledge that can set you apart from other Private Chefs.
Yes. Private Chefs employed by an agency earn less than those who work independently, as they experience pay cuts to support their employers’ business operations.
However, being hired by a company provides you with a stable stream of income without having to actively look for clients. Searching for clients requires time-consuming efforts such as building a personal website, managing bookings and taking care of business permits.
Private Chef Salary Data
Data regarding salaries were calculated using estimates from various job posting platforms. Learn more about how we came up with the salaries per state, city and experience level by checking out our salary methodology page.
