Chefs and Head Cooks Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks
SOC 35-1011 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data
Median Annual Salary
$62,462
$30.03/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Chefs and Head Cooks is $62,462 per year ($30.03/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $48,443 and $78,749 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $98,571 per year. There are approximately 200,040 chefs and head cooks employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
Direct and may participate in the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. May plan and price menu items, order supplies, and keep records and accounts.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+7.1%
Faster than average
Annual openings
24K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
197K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
6% from new growth94% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
5 years or more
On-the-job training
None
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Restaurants and Other Eating Places
NAICS 722500
117K
$59,060
Special Food Services
NAICS 722300
22K
$70,840
Traveler Accommodation
NAICS 721100
19K
$73,940
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries
NAICS 713900
10K
$74,000
Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly
NAICS 623300
5K
$59,210
Wage range across top 5 industries: $59,060 to $74,000 (25% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$18.22
$37,898
P25
$23.29
$48,443
P50MEDIAN
$30.03
$62,462
P75
$37.86
$78,749
P90
$47.39
$98,571
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · retail sector
Active
Openings Rate
4.6%
Quits Rate
3.1%
Retail openings rose to 737K (+52K) in March, rate up to 4.6%. Hires increased to 684K (+73K). Frontline turnover persists with quit rate at 3.1%.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average chefs and head cooks salary?
The national median salary for Chefs and Head Cooks is $62,462 per year ($30.03/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $48,443 and $78,749 annually.
How much do top-earning chefs and head cooks make?
The 90th percentile salary for Chefs and Head Cooks is $98,571 per year ($47.39/hr). The 75th percentile is $78,749 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for chefs and head cooks?
Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn approximately $37,898 per year ($18.22/hr). The 25th percentile is $48,443 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
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