Chefs and Head Cooks Career, Salary and Skills
Chefs and Head Cooks have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $62,470 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 200,040. Wage data is published for 393 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
35-1011.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$62,470
Hourly median
$30.03
Employment
200,040
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Coordination | 4.12 | 4.12 |
| Monitoring | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.88 | 3.75 |
| Time Management | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Speaking | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Service Orientation | 3.75 | 3.38 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.62 | 3.12 |
| Active Listening | 3.62 | 3.50 |
Typical tasks
- Monitor sanitation practices to ensure that employees follow standards and regulations.
- Instruct cooks or other workers in the preparation, cooking, garnishing, or presentation of food.
- Supervise or coordinate activities of cooks or workers engaged in food preparation.
- Order or requisition food or other supplies needed to ensure efficient operation.
- Inspect supplies, equipment, or work areas to ensure conformance to established standards.
- Check the quantity and quality of received products.
- Check the quality of raw or cooked food products to ensure that standards are met.
- Determine how food should be presented and create decorative food displays.
Technology
- ADP eTIME
- Axxya Systems Nutritionist Pro
- Barrington Software CookenPro Commercial
- CostGuard
- Culinary Software Services ChefTec
- Delphi Technology
- EGS CALCMENU
- Email software
- Enggist & Grandjean EGS F&B Control
- GNOME Gnutrition
- Google Sheets
- GroupMe
- IPro Restaurant Inventory, Recipe & Menu Software
Chefs and Head Cooks salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in CAMedian $64,500 · Employment 31,670
- Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in New York, NYMedian $71,780 · Employment 20,010
- Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in FLMedian $58,240 · Employment 19,670
- Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in NYMedian $70,670 · Employment 17,430
- Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in TXMedian $56,080 · Employment 13,270
- Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $69,990 · Employment 11,430
- Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in PAMedian $63,860 · Employment 9,170
- Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in NJMedian $74,280 · Employment 9,100
- Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in ILMedian $58,830 · Employment 8,290
- Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Miami, FLMedian $57,940 · Employment 8,210
- Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $60,770 · Employment 6,840
- Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in MAMedian $69,540 · Employment 6,000
Related careers
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNational median $33,980
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNational median $31,200
- Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and TendersNational median $44,810
- Food Servers, NonrestaurantNational median $35,360
- BaristasNational median $31,200
- Food Cooking Machine Operators and TendersNational median $41,590
- Butchers and Meat CuttersNational median $40,140
- Fast Food and Counter WorkersNational median $31,200
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.