Sous Chef Salary in the United States
We’ve collected Sous Chef salary trends in the United States (U.S.) so you can estimate your earning potential as a Sous Chef. Read on for nationwide and location-specific average salaries across the U.S., factors that could help you earn more money in this role and other useful insights.
You can also use our salary comparison tool below to understand where your Sous Chef salary stands in the market.
What could I earn?
Find out how your salary compares to the average Sous Chef salary.Average Sous Chef Base Salary:
What can I earn as Sous Chef? Your salary is $0.00 on the US national average.How Much Does a Sous Chef Make in the US?
The average Sous Chef salary in the U.S. is $56,013 per year*. For ways to earn more money in this role, keep reading for useful tips and insights in the next sections.
* According to the most recent data gathered using our salary estimate methodology
How Much Does a Sous Chef Make Monthly?
The monthly Sous Chef salary is $4,667.75 a month.
How Much Does a Sous Chef Make Hourly?
The average hourly pay for Sous Chefs is $26.93. However, Sous Chefs are usually paid biweekly or monthly salaries rather than hourly wages.
How Much Does a Sous Chef Make Weekly?
The average weekly pay for Sous Chefs in the U.S. is $1,077.17.
That said, many Sous Chefs are considered “learned professionals” under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Learned professionals are those who make at least $684 per week and whose regular tasks require having advanced knowledge.
As such, employees like Sous Chefs who fall under this FLSA category may be exempt from overtime pay.
For more Sous Chef employment trends, check out this article on Sous Chef demographics and statistics.
Average Sous Chef Salary by State
Below is a map showing the average salaries for Sous Chefs in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C.
[Calculated using Salary.com, Talent.com, Indeed and ZipRecruiter data]
This map is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the map to see detailed data.
As seen in the map above, the average Sous Chef salary varies per state or district because of factors like local economic conditions.
For example, in the District of Columbia, Washington and California, Sous Chef salary averages are likely to be higher so Sous Chefs can keep up with costs of living. This is especially true if they are based in a major metropolitan area like Greater Los Angeles.
Moreover, these three places are known for having lively tourism industries, as they receive plenty of local and foreign tourists each year. As such, many of the dining establishments in these areas are more inclined to look for highly skilled Sous Chefs to keep up with the high number of visitors.
On the other hand, Sous Chef salary averages in states like Arkansas, Mississippi and West Virginia are often relatively lower following relatively lower costs of living.
| State | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $50,790 |
| Alaska | $54,924 |
| Arizona | $52,153 |
| Arkansas | $43,845 |
| California | $61,531 |
| Colorado | $54,364 |
| Connecticut | $51,834 |
| Delaware | $53,590 |
| Florida | $49,708 |
| Georgia | $51,294 |
| Hawaii | $58,434 |
| Idaho | $51,927 |
| Illinois | $54,869 |
| Indiana | $51,798 |
| Iowa | $49,244 |
| Kansas | $48,777 |
| Kentucky | $47,945 |
| Louisiana | $49,687 |
| Maine | $53,525 |
| Maryland | $54,498 |
| Massachusetts | $59,018 |
| Michigan | $48,239 |
| Minnesota | $54,106 |
| Mississippi | $45,837 |
| Missouri | $49,482 |
| Montana | $50,155 |
| Nebraska | $49,458 |
| Nevada | $53,498 |
| New Hampshire | $53,831 |
| New Jersey | $57,150 |
| New Mexico | $51,036 |
| New York | $61,386 |
| North Carolina | $50,597 |
| North Dakota | $52,283 |
| Ohio | $51,207 |
| Oklahoma | $46,502 |
| Oregon | $53,577 |
| Pennsylvania | $53,396 |
| Rhode Island | $56,038 |
| South Carolina | $50,502 |
| South Dakota | $49,853 |
| Tennessee | $51,086 |
| Texas | $54,863 |
| Utah | $48,546 |
| Vermont | $53,391 |
| Virginia | $52,916 |
| Washington | $62,578 |
| West Virginia | $45,863 |
| Wisconsin | $52,516 |
| Wyoming | $53,206 |
| District of Columbia | $63,015 |
Sous Chef Salary in Major US Cities
When it comes to the four major U.S. cities, NYC is where Sous Chefs are most likely to earn the highest salaries. There, the average annual salary for Sous Chefs is $67,503.
Miami
Annual mean wage
$60,151
New York City
Annual mean wage
$67,503
Chicago
Annual mean wage
$58,638
Los Angeles
Annual mean wage
$62,954
Factors That Affect Sous Chef Salary
Aside from geographic location and cost of living, here are other factors that may influence how much money a Sous Chef makes.
1. Benefits and other compensation
Oftentimes, a Sous Chef’s base salary is not the only compensation they receive from employers. They also get several job benefits and perks, which are part of their overall compensation package. Some of these may significantly boost a Sous Chef’s overall income, while others are meant to help cover certain personal expenses.
Full-time employees within the U.S. culinary industry usually get healthcare insurance, 401(k) plans, paid time off, discounts on company products and employee assistance programs.
However, those in supervisory roles like Sous Chefs may also receive additional perks and benefits such as bonuses, equity or profit sharing, travel opportunities and possibly even educational assistance.
It’s best to discuss benefits and perks like this during your interview as a Sous Chef so you can weigh the pros and cons when evaluating a job offer.
2. Experience and industry background
Sous Chefs with more years of culinary experience have higher chances of being offered competitive salaries and generous benefits packages.
The same can also be said for Sous Chefs who work or have previously worked in reputable dining establishments. These Sous Chefs have valuable skills and experience they can bring to the table, such as managing kitchen staff and maintaining high food quality standards.
Check out our article on how to become a Sous Chef so you can grow your career and level up your earnings.
3. Culinary education and additional qualifications
Sous Chefs with formal culinary education or certifications are more likely to receive higher compensation, given their credentials.
4. Particular establishment or company
A company or establishment’s scale of operations and budget might also determine how much they pay their Sous Chefs.
For example, a Sous Chef employed in a restaurant company that has many stores across the U.S. would typically earn more than one who works in an independent establishment.
Additionally, companies or establishments with bigger budgets are more likely to offer higher salaries and more benefits for supervisory employees like Sous Chefs.
5. Negotiation skills
A Sous Chef can also gain a competitive salary and benefits package if they are able to negotiate effectively during the hiring process.
Meanwhile, Sous Chefs who are not applying for a new job could ask for a raise during performance reviews or separate discussions with their employer.
In both cases, a Sous Chef must be able to articulate their culinary skills and experience, as well as their contributions to current and previous kitchen teams that they’ve been part of.
How Can I Make Extra Income as a Sous Chef?
Apart from the salary and benefits they receive from their main job, a Sous Chef can also take up side projects to make additional income.
Here are some common options that you might want to consider doing during your free time if you’re a Sous Chef:
- Start a food- or cooking-centric social media account, blog or YouTube channel. With these, you may have opportunities to earn commissions through affiliate marketing.
- Sell ready-made meals in small batches. If your employment contract allows you to, you can offer packaged homecooked meals to people within your local area.
- Teach a cooking class or facilitate culinary workshops. These can either be a single session on how to make certain types of dishes or a multi-week program that covers various culinary techniques.
How To Estimate Your Take-Home Pay
If you’re a Sous Chef working in the U.S., you can use our Paycheck Calculator — which is designed to help you accurately determine your take-home pay.
Paycheck Calculator
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.
If your gross pay is $40,000.00 per year in the state of New York, your net pay (or take home pay) will be $31,864.49 after tax deductions of 20.34% (or $8,135.51). Deductions include a total of [1] 7.60% (or $3,040.50) for the federal income tax, [2] 5.09% (or $2,035.01) for the state income tax, [3] 6.20% (or $2,480.00) for the social security tax and [4] 1.45% (or $580.00) for Medicare.
The Federal Income Tax is collected by the government and is consistent across all U.S. regions. In contrast, the State Income Tax is levied by the state of residence and work, leading to substantial variations. The Social Security Tax is used to fund Social Security, which benefits retirees, persons with disabilities and survivors of deceased workers. Medicare involves a federal payroll tax designated for the Medicare insurance program. As of 2022, Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming do not levy a state income tax.
You can also use the Salary To Hourly Calculator below so you can plan your finances and understand your salary potential.
How Much Do Careers Similar to a Sous Chef Get Paid?
In the U.S., the average Sous Chef salary is generally higher than that of Prep Cooks and Line Cooks but slightly lower than that of Sushi Chefs.
| Job Title | Avg Salary |
|---|---|
| Prep Cook | $32,427 |
| Line Cook | $33,829 |
| Sushi Chef | $58,909 |
Sous Chef Salary FAQ
No. It is quite rare for Sous Chefs to receive tips directly from customers or take a share from tip pools with the front-of-house staff.
Yes, Sous Chef salary averages are relatively high — especially compared to other kitchen staff members.
Since Sous Chefs hold a supervisory role that requires more years of experience and a higher level of culinary skills, they are often paid more than the likes of Line Cooks and Prep Cooks.
Oftentimes, no. A Sous Chef is directly under the Head Chef and Executive Chef within a kitchen’s organizational structure. That said, Head Chefs and Executive Chefs have higher average salaries than Sous Chefs.
For context, the average Sous Chef salary ($56,013) is lower than that of Head Chefs ($73,632) and Executive Chefs ($80,040).