Chefs and Head Cooks · New York

Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in New York

Chefs and Head Cooks in New York earn a median annual wage of $70,670 —13.1% above the national median of $62,470. That ranks NY #9 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$70,670
Median hourly
$33.98
Entry level (P10)
$46,260
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$120,370
90th percentile
Employment
17,430
1.8 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+13.1%
U.S. $62,470

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$46,260
$55,070
$70,670
$93,240
$46,260$70,670$120,370
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $70,670.

Employment is 1.40× as concentrated as the national average, making New York a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. New York is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Rhode Island$79,930$38.437401.15
2Hawaii$77,360$37.191,2401.53
3District of Columbia$76,420$36.742,0202.23
4Washington$76,010$36.545,3201.16
5North Dakota$74,740$35.931000.19
6New Jersey$74,280$35.719,1001.65
7Wyoming$73,170$35.182400.67
8South Carolina$71,860$34.552,6500.89
9New York$70,670$33.9817,4301.40
10Tennessee$69,810$33.563,8200.91

Related occupations in New York

Occupations in the same job family, compared within New York.

OccupationNew York medianU.S. median
Fast Food and Counter Workers$35,250$31,200
Waiters and Waitresses$47,020$35,230
Cooks, Restaurant$43,680$37,390
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$47,190$44,080
Food Preparation Workers$35,610$35,320
Bartenders$61,210$34,340

Frequently asked questions

How much do chefs and head cooks make in New York?

The median annual wage for chefs and head cooks in New York is $70,670, or $33.98 per hour. That is 13.1% above the national median of $62,470.

What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in New York?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $46,260 per year ($22.24/hour). The 25th percentile is $55,070.

How many people work as chefs and head cooks in New York?

About 17,430 people work in this occupation in New York, or 1.8 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is New York a good state for chefs and head cooks?

New York ranks #9 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.40x as concentrated as the national average, making New York a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays chefs and head cooks the most?

Rhode Island has the highest median wage at $79,930 per year, followed by Hawaii ($77,360) and District of Columbia ($76,420).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes