What is the average salary for a chefs and head cooks in the US?

The BLS OEWS May 2025 national annual median wage for chefs and head cooks is $62,470, and the mean (average) is $66,700. The median is the midpoint — half of chefs and head cooks earn more and half earn less.

How does chefs and head cooks pay compare to the US average?

At $62,470, a chefs and head cooks earns 23% above the US all-occupations median of $50,980 (BLS OEWS May 2025). The all-occupations US median is $50,980.

How many chefs and head cooks are employed in the US?

BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates about 200,040 chefs and head cooks employed nationally (SOC 35-1011), across all industries.

Where does this chefs and head cooks salary data come from?

From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 national release — cross-industry, all-ownership estimates, SOC code 35-1011. As US federal government work it is public domain. GeraJobs publishes the figures verbatim; suppressed cells are shown as "—", never estimated.

Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in the US

A chefs and head cooks earns a national median of $62,470 a year (mean $66,700) — BLS OEWS May 2025, ranked #395 of 825.

How much does a chefs and head cooks earn in the US?

A chefs and head cooks in the United States earns a median of $62,470 a year (mean $66,700), per BLS OEWS May 2025. That is 23% above the US all-occupations median of $50,980. About 200,040 people work in this occupation (SOC 35-1011), ranked #395 of 825 by national median pay. Updated annually from BLS OEWS.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 national estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 27 June 2026

Median

$62,470

per year

Mean

$66,700

per year

Employment

200,040

US workers

National rank

#395

of 825 by median

What a chefs and head cooks earns in the US

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025 national estimates, a chefs and head cooks (SOC 35-1011) earns a median annual wage of $62,470 and a mean (average) of $66,700. The median is the midpoint — half of chefs and head cooks earn more and half earn less — and is 23% above the US all-occupations median of $50,980. The mean is higher than the median when a minority of very high earners pull the average up.

Note: BLS top-codes any annual wage at or above $239,200/year, so occupations at that ceiling share the same figure.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average salary for a chefs and head cooks in the US?: The BLS OEWS May 2025 national annual median wage for chefs and head cooks is $62,470, and the mean (average) is $66,700. The median is the midpoint — half of chefs and head cooks earn more and half earn less.
How does chefs and head cooks pay compare to the US average?: At $62,470, a chefs and head cooks earns 23% above the US all-occupations median of $50,980 (BLS OEWS May 2025). The all-occupations US median is $50,980.
How many chefs and head cooks are employed in the US?: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates about 200,040 chefs and head cooks employed nationally (SOC 35-1011), across all industries.
Where does this chefs and head cooks salary data come from?: From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 national release — cross-industry, all-ownership estimates, SOC code 35-1011. As US federal government work it is public domain. GeraJobs publishes the figures verbatim; suppressed cells are shown as "—", never estimated.

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Data source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) · May 2025 national estimates · SOC 35-1011 · Public domain (U.S. federal government work)

Published verbatim by GeraJobs. Last updated: 2026-06-27. ← All US salaries