The culinary industry spans everything from fast food prep cooks to Michelin-starred executive chefs — with equally wide salary ranges. Here’s what chefs at every level actually earn in 2026.
Pay at a Glance (BLS Data)
Bureau of Labor Statistics wage estimates for chefs and head cooks, across all industries:
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $37,900 | $18.22 |
| 25th | $48,440 | $23.29 |
| 50th (median) | $62,470 | $30.03 |
| 75th | $78,750 | $37.86 |
| 90th | $98,560 | $47.38 |
| Average (mean) | $66,700 | $32.07 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for Chefs and Head Cooks (all industries). Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. “Not published” means BLS withheld the estimate, usually because wages are above its top reporting limit.
Chef Salary by Role and Kitchen Level
| Role | Median Annual Salary | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Dishwasher / Kitchen Helper | $28,000 | $22,000–$33,000 |
| Line Cook / Prep Cook | $34,000 | $26,000–$44,000 |
| Sous Chef | $55,000 | $42,000–$72,000 |
| Head Cook | $63,000 | $45,000–$85,000 |
| Executive Chef | $85,000 | $65,000–$140,000 |
| Hotel / Resort Executive Chef | $110,000 | $85,000–$180,000 |
| Private / Personal Chef | $90,000 | $60,000–$150,000+ |
| Corporate Executive Chef (Restaurant Group) | $130,000 | $100,000–$250,000+ |
Chef Salary by Restaurant Type
| Restaurant Type | Notes |
|---|---|
| Fast Food / QSR | Kitchen manager level; hourly workers lower |
| Casual Dining (Chili’s, Olive Garden) | Kitchen manager / chef |
| Upscale Casual | Head chef |
| Fine Dining | Executive chef role |
| Michelin-Star Restaurant | Top tier; often lower than expected without ownership |
| Hotel / Casino | High volume, stable hours |
| Catering / Events | Volume-based |
| Private / Household Chef | 1-family or estate service |
Chef Salary by State
| Rank | State | Avg Salary | Starting Salary | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $84,860 | $56,680 | $79,930 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $80,720 | $48,970 | $77,360 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $79,660 | $56,570 | $76,420 |
| 4 | New York | $74,840 | $46,260 | $70,670 |
| 5 | Washington | $74,670 | $49,920 | $76,010 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $74,570 | $48,460 | $73,170 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $73,420 | $47,460 | $69,540 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $72,930 | $49,200 | $74,280 |
| 9 | South Carolina | $70,780 | $47,640 | $71,860 |
| 10 | Tennessee | $70,710 | $45,410 | $69,810 |
| 11 | Georgia | $70,450 | $43,300 | $66,230 |
| 12 | Colorado | $70,320 | $46,330 | $65,400 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $69,680 | $44,530 | $64,310 |
| 14 | California | $69,130 | $37,380 | $64,500 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $68,520 | $48,240 | $74,740 |
| 16 | Vermont | $68,130 | $48,950 | $65,440 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $67,890 | $39,040 | $63,860 |
| 18 | Oregon | $67,510 | $45,910 | $63,600 |
| 19 | Nevada | $67,380 | $36,410 | $62,380 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $67,080 | $43,370 | $62,250 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $66,990 | $39,650 | $60,510 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $66,910 | $48,400 | $62,600 |
| 23 | Missouri | $66,640 | $39,650 | $64,480 |
| 24 | Delaware | $66,590 | $49,920 | $61,440 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $66,530 | $40,220 | $63,400 |
| 26 | Maryland | $65,930 | $38,310 | $61,590 |
| 27 | Virginia | $65,320 | $43,010 | $63,270 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $64,600 | $40,520 | $61,100 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $64,210 | $41,990 | $61,300 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $63,960 | $38,210 | $61,130 |
| 31 | Alabama | $63,720 | $39,940 | $62,400 |
| 32 | Illinois | $62,810 | $40,330 | $58,830 |
| 33 | Michigan | $62,460 | $42,170 | $60,070 |
| 34 | Florida | $61,720 | $31,920 | $58,240 |
| 35 | Montana | $61,580 | $38,200 | $57,470 |
| 36 | Maine | $61,540 | $48,430 | $57,010 |
| 37 | Ohio | $61,220 | $38,370 | $53,990 |
| 38 | Kansas | $60,930 | $36,540 | $58,390 |
| 39 | Arizona | $60,330 | $33,970 | $59,890 |
| 40 | Alaska | $59,430 | $39,170 | $52,190 |
| 41 | Texas | $59,350 | $31,380 | $56,080 |
| 42 | Utah | $58,880 | $27,940 | $59,060 |
| 43 | Idaho | $57,390 | $33,590 | $52,000 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $57,190 | $28,920 | $58,540 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $56,910 | $30,900 | $54,850 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $55,770 | $31,550 | $48,070 |
| 47 | Indiana | $55,060 | $30,930 | $52,190 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $53,820 | $33,500 | $46,170 |
| 49 | Iowa | $52,840 | $36,770 | $47,990 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $52,820 | $32,320 | $45,570 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $47,900 | $37,450 | $48,470 |
| — | National | $66,700 | $37,900 | $62,470 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 estimates, fetched 2026-09-29. Figures cover Chefs and Head Cooks (cross-industry). Some states are omitted where BLS did not publish a reliable estimate.
Chef Salary by Experience
| Experience Level | Typical Pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Student / Culinary School | $20,000–$28,000 | Apprentice-level work |
| Entry (0–3 years) | $28,000–$42,000 | Line cook, prep |
| Mid-Level (3–8 years) | $45,000–$70,000 | Sous chef, head cook |
| Senior / Executive (8–15 years) | $70,000–$130,000 | Executive chef |
| Brand / Celebrity Chef | $200,000–$5,000,000+ | Media, licensing, restaurant empire |
The Reality of Chef Pay
Industry-specific factors that make culinary income different from other professions:
- Tip income: Chefs in the kitchen do not typically receive tips (front of house does). Some newer restaurants use tip pooling that includes kitchen staff.
- Split shifts and long hours: 50–70 hour work weeks are common, especially in fine dining. Hourly wages can translate to effective rates of $15–$25/hour even for “well-paid” head cooks.
- Ownership is the wealth path: Restaurant ownership requires significant capital and carries high failure risk (60% close within 5 years), but successful restaurant owners can earn $200,000–$500,000+ annually.
- Culinary school ROI: Average culinary degree costs $40,000–$100,000. Entry-level kitchen salaries make debt repayment difficult; apprenticeship programs or community college culinary programs offer better ROI.
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