Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Massachusetts
Chefs and Head Cooks in Massachusetts earn a median of $69,540 a year ($33.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,000 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,270 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $62,470. Massachusetts ranks 11th of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 1.6 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $73,420, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Massachusetts
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,460 | $22.82 |
| 25th percentile | $54,120 | $26.02 |
| Median | $69,540 | $33.43 |
| 75th percentile | $83,050 | $39.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,270 | $47.73 |
| Average (mean) | $73,420 | $35.30 |
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 | $5,795 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,897.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,674.62 |
| Weekly | $1,337.31 |
| Hourly | $33.43 |
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 Massachusetts
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $79,340 | 1,070 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $72,470 | 4,430 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $67,700 | 260 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $66,450 | 150 |
| Worcester, MA | $64,620 | 560 |
| Springfield, MA | $64,000 | 300 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $61,580 | 180 |
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 Massachusetts
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,600 | $22.40 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,850 | $17.24 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $45,600 | $21.92 |
| Bartender | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Dishwasher | $37,190 | $17.88 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,900 | $18.70 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,380 | $17.01 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $47,790 | $22.98 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $44,290 | $21.29 |
| Cooks, All Other | $69,570 | $33.45 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $37,870 | $18.21 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in Massachusetts is $69,540 a year, or $33.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,270 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Massachusetts?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in Massachusetts earn at least $99,270 a year. The top 25% earn $83,050 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Massachusetts?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,460 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $54,120 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Massachusetts?
About 6,000 chefs and head cooks are employed in Massachusetts, not counting the self-employed.