Chef and Head Cook salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A chef and head cook earns a median of $62,470 a year ($30.03 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $66,700. About 200,040 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $62,470
- Gross pay
- $2,402.69
- Federal income tax
- −$204.48
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$148.97
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$34.84
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $2,014.41
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $62,470
- Federal
- $5,316
- FICA
- $4,779
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $52,375
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Chef and Head Cook salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 | $84,860 | 740 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 | $80,720 | 1,240 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 | $79,660 | 2,020 |
| Washington | $76,010 | $74,670 | 5,320 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 | $68,520 | 100 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 | $72,930 | 9,100 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 | $74,570 | 240 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 | $70,780 | 2,650 |
| New York | $70,670 | $74,840 | 17,430 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 | $70,710 | 3,820 |
| Massachusetts | $69,540 | $73,420 | 6,000 |
| Georgia | $66,230 | $70,450 | 3,680 |
| Vermont | $65,440 | $68,130 | 610 |
| Colorado | $65,400 | $70,320 | 3,970 |
| California | $64,500 | $69,130 | 31,670 |
| Missouri | $64,480 | $66,640 | 1,750 |
| Connecticut | $64,310 | $69,680 | 3,080 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,860 | $67,890 | 9,170 |
| Oregon | $63,600 | $67,510 | 2,510 |
| New Hampshire | $63,400 | $66,530 | 1,170 |
| Virginia | $63,270 | $65,320 | 3,600 |
| Minnesota | $62,600 | $66,910 | 1,730 |
| Alabama | $62,400 | $63,720 | 1,000 |
| Nevada | $62,380 | $67,380 | 3,940 |
| New Mexico | $62,250 | $67,080 | 770 |
| Maryland | $61,590 | $65,930 | 3,220 |
| Delaware | $61,440 | $66,590 | 590 |
| Wisconsin | $61,300 | $64,210 | 1,860 |
| North Carolina | $61,130 | $63,960 | 4,920 |
| West Virginia | $61,100 | $64,600 | 350 |
| Nebraska | $60,510 | $66,990 | 540 |
| Michigan | $60,070 | $62,460 | 5,360 |
| Arizona | $59,890 | $60,330 | 4,080 |
| Utah | $59,060 | $58,880 | 1,740 |
| Illinois | $58,830 | $62,810 | 8,290 |
| Oklahoma | $58,540 | $57,190 | 1,430 |
| Kansas | $58,390 | $60,930 | 860 |
| Florida | $58,240 | $61,720 | 19,670 |
| Montana | $57,470 | $61,580 | 720 |
| Maine | $57,010 | $61,540 | 1,250 |
| Texas | $56,080 | $59,350 | 13,270 |
| Mississippi | $54,850 | $56,910 | 840 |
| Ohio | $53,990 | $61,220 | 4,000 |
| Alaska | $52,190 | $59,430 | 680 |
| Indiana | $52,190 | $55,060 | 1,940 |
| Idaho | $52,000 | $57,390 | 550 |
| South Dakota | $48,470 | $47,900 | 300 |
| Kentucky | $48,070 | $55,770 | 1,790 |
| Iowa | $47,990 | $52,840 | 1,640 |
| Arkansas | $46,170 | $53,820 | 880 |
| Louisiana | $45,570 | $52,820 | 1,990 |
Similar jobs
- Cook: $47,940
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker: $44,080
- Cook: $37,690
- Cook: $37,450
- Cook: $37,390
- Cook: $35,880
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker: $35,840
- Food Server: $35,360
BLS occupation: Chefs and Head Cooks. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 35-1011). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $30.03; the average is $32.07.
Which state pays chefs and head cooks the most?
Rhode Island ($79,930 median), followed by Hawaii and District of Columbia.
What is the salary range for a chef and head cook?
The bottom 10% earn under $37,900 and the top 10% earn over $98,560 a year.
How much is $62,470 after taxes?
About $52,375 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $49,775 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.