Chef salary in 2026
National pay, hourly rates, city listings, and live chef jobs from MAJC's coverage area. Numbers below combine U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics with 76 active postings. Hiring? Use the free chef job description template.
Median (national)
$58,920
$28.33/hr · BLS May 2024
Top 10 percent
$99K+
$47.83/hr effective
MAJC advertised upper median
$80,000
From 37 disclosed
National pay for chefs
$58,920median, full year
About$28.33/hr. Top 10 percent earn$99K+.
Of 37 MAJC postings with comparable USD pay in this category, median annualized advertised upper amount is $80,000. Uses the advertised range maximum, or the minimum when no maximum is given. USD only; hourly rates assume 2,080 hours per year. This is not actual annual earnings or a representative wage estimate.
BLS Occupation35-1011Chefs and Head Cooks, May 2024. Source
Want to see where your own paycheck sits? Use the free Am I paid fairly checker. Pick this role, your state, and what you take home.
Chef pay by city
MAJC-active metros with at least one disclosed chef salary in the last 14 days. Median of annualized advertised upper amounts in comparable USD listings only. Uses the advertised range maximum, or the minimum when no maximum is given. USD only; hourly rates assume 2,080 hours per year. This is not actual annual earnings or a representative wage estimate.
What to Compare in Chef Offers
- Scope of work. Compare service volume, team size, and responsibilities when evaluating offers.
- Specialized knowledge. Check which certifications, cuisine knowledge, or technical systems each employer requires.
- Language requirements. Ask which languages you will use at work and how that responsibility is reflected in the offer.
- Tenure + leadership. Compare the responsibilities and disclosed pay for each position. A title alone does not establish a pay premium.
- Disclosed pay. Check the range, pay period, expected hours, and tip policy in each chef listing.
Top-paying live chef jobs right now
Highest disclosed salaries across 76 active chef postings.
- $130k to $150k/yr
Banquet Chef - Waldorf Astoria New York
- $90k to $110k/yr
Management Chef - Waldorf Astoria New York
- $95k to $109k/yr
Chef De Cuisine
- $87k to $108k/yr
CHEF MGR, SR
Frequently asked
- What is the average chef salary?
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics median annual pay for chefs and head cooks is $58,920 ($28.33/hr) as of May 2024. The top 10% earn $99K or more.
- How much does a chef make per hour?
- BLS reports a median hourly wage of $28.33/hr for chefs and head cooks as of May 2024. For tipped roles, this BLS wage measure includes tips.
- Can these listings show which cities pay chefs the most?
- The available listings are not a representative city wage survey. Cities shown here are ordered by the number of available jobs. Compare each offer's pay range, expected hours, and tip policy before drawing conclusions about earnings.
- How should I compare skill requirements for chef jobs?
- Compare the skills each employer requests with the duties and disclosed pay. Ask which certifications, languages, systems, and leadership responsibilities the job requires. These listings do not establish a pay premium for a particular skill.
- How do I compare pay in chef job listings?
- Use the "Salary listed" filter to find disclosed pay. Check the pay period, expected hours, and whether tips are included before comparing offers. Browse all 76 chef listings below.