Salary guide
Chef Salary & Pay Scale (2026)
What chefs earn per year, per hour and per month, with the full percentile range, the factors that move pay and how to earn more.
The median chef salary in the U.S. is $62,470 per year, or $30.03 per hour, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $37,900, while the top 10% earned more than $98,560.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
Chef pay scale
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly* | What it usually reflects |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,900 | $18.22 | Typical for new workers, part-time markets and lower-paying settings |
| 25th percentile | $48,440 | $23.29 | Early career, a year or two of experience |
| Median (50th) | $62,470 | $30.03 | Mid-career: half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $78,750 | $37.86 | Experienced workers, specialists and higher-paying employers |
| 90th percentile | $98,560 | $47.38 | Top earners: senior, specialized, supervisory or high-cost areas |
*Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. Percentile descriptions are general patterns, not guarantees.
Monthly and biweekly pay
| Pay period | At 25th percentile | At median | At 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per year | $48,440 | $62,470 | $78,750 |
| Per month | $4,037 | $5,206 | $6,563 |
| Every two weeks | $1,863 | $2,403 | $3,029 |
| Per week | $932 | $1,201 | $1,514 |
Gross pay before taxes and deductions.
What affects chef pay
- Tips and service charges in front-of-house roles
- Type of establishment (fine dining, resorts and casinos often pay more)
- Supervisory and management responsibility
- Certifications such as ServSafe Manager and culinary credentials
- Geography and cost of living: metropolitan areas and some states pay well above the national median
How to earn more as a chef
- Get credentialed: ServSafe Food Protection Manager, ACF Certified Sous Chef or Executive Chef, Culinary school diploma or degree.
- Build specialty experience: Lead shifts and train cooks.
- Move up: roles such as head or executive chef and chef-owner or culinary director typically pay more.
- Negotiate: research local pay and use our salary negotiation guide.
Chef pay vs. related careers
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of chefs to change by +6.6% from 2025–35, faster than average compared with the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 25,200 openings are projected each year, on average, including openings to replace workers who retire or change occupations.
About this data
Figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025), which covers wage and salary workers nationwide under SOC code 35-1011 (“Chefs and head cooks”). Wages exclude self-employment income, overtime and most bonuses unless they are part of regular pay. We refresh these numbers when BLS releases new estimates each spring.
Chef salary FAQ
How much does a chef make per hour?
The median hourly wage for chefs was $30.03 in May 2025 (BLS). Hourly pay for the lowest 10% was about $18.22 and the top 10% earned about $47.38 or more.
How much does a chef make a month?
At the median annual wage of $62,470, that works out to about $5,206 per month before taxes, or about $2,403 every two weeks.
What is the starting salary for a chef?
New chefs often start near the lower end of the range. The 10th percentile was $37,900 and the 25th percentile was $48,440 per year in May 2025. Starting pay depends on location, employer and credentials.
How can chefs earn more?
Common ways include earning ServSafe Food Protection Manager and ACF Certified Sous Chef or Executive Chef, gaining specialty experience, taking shifts or roles with premium pay, and moving up the career ladder to roles such as head or executive chef.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 35-1011 (Chefs and head cooks).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Chefs and head cooks (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.