Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Delaware
Chefs and Head Cooks in Delaware earn a median of $61,440 a year ($29.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 590 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,680 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $62,470. Delaware ranks 27th of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 1.2 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $66,590, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Delaware
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,920 | $24.00 |
| 25th percentile | $56,160 | $27.00 |
| Median | $61,440 | $29.54 |
| 75th percentile | $76,310 | $36.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,680 | $40.71 |
| Average (mean) | $66,590 | $32.02 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,120 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,560 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,363.08 |
| Weekly | $1,181.54 |
| Hourly | $29.54 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in cities in Delaware
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $65,680 | 5,700 |
| Dover, DE | $59,990 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
Related jobs in Delaware
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,120 | $23.13 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,300 | $15.05 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,880 | $17.73 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| Bartender | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,080 | $21.19 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,930 | $17.28 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,880 | $15.33 |
| Dishwasher | $35,780 | $17.20 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,430 | $15.11 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,500 | $18.51 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $33,840 | $16.27 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Delaware
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Delaware?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in Delaware is $61,440 a year, or $29.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,680 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Delaware?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in Delaware earn at least $84,680 a year. The top 25% earn $76,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Delaware?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,920 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $56,160 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Delaware?
About 590 chefs and head cooks are employed in Delaware, not counting the self-employed.