How much does a head chef make?
Typical yearly pay for chefs and head cooks in the United States.
median pay per year, about $5,206 a month or $30.03 an hour.
That's more than 49% of the 100 jobs in our salary guide, ranking #51 of 100.
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| Electrician | $63,190 |
| Graphic designer | $62,960 |
| Paralegal | $62,890 |
| Head chef | $62,470 |
| HVAC technician | $61,010 |
| Paramedic | $60,600 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 |
Similar jobs
- Butcher$40,140
- Restaurant cook$37,390
- Baker$37,160
- Waiter or waitress$35,230
- Bartender$34,340
- Fast food worker$31,200
How much does a head chef make per hour?
About $30.03 an hour, if you spread the median yearly pay over a standard 40-hour week, 52 weeks a year. Actual hourly pay varies with overtime, shift work and location.
Becoming a head chef
The U.S. Department of Labor's career profile covers the training, licenses and day-to-day tasks for this job.
About this number
This is the national median wage for the occupation “Chefs and Head Cooks” (code 35-1011.00) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 release, as published on O*NET OnLine. The median is the middle value: half of workers earn more, half earn less.