Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Nebraska
Chefs and Head Cooks in Nebraska earn a median of $60,510 a year ($29.09 an hour), based on BLS data for 540 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,990 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $62,470. Nebraska ranks 31st of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 0.53 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.41). The average (mean) salary is $66,990, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Nebraska
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,650 | $19.06 |
| 25th percentile | $46,020 | $22.13 |
| Median | $60,510 | $29.09 |
| 75th percentile | $81,660 | $39.26 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,990 | $48.07 |
| Average (mean) | $66,990 | $32.21 |
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 | $5,042.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,521.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,327.31 |
| Weekly | $1,163.65 |
| Hourly | $29.09 |
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 Nebraska
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $62,240 | 330 |
| Lincoln, NE | $59,680 | 140 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $49,590 | 70 |
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 Nebraska
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,230 | $18.86 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,000 | $13.94 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $33,770 | $16.24 |
| Bartender | $30,180 | $14.51 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,210 | $16.93 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,030 | $17.81 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,390 | $17.50 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,540 | $15.17 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,430 | $14.63 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,450 | $13.68 |
| Dishwasher | $29,740 | $14.30 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,690 | $14.76 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,530 | $14.68 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $46,170 | $22.20 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Nebraska
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 Nebraska?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in Nebraska is $60,510 a year, or $29.09 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Nebraska?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in Nebraska earn at least $99,990 a year. The top 25% earn $81,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Nebraska?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,650 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $46,020 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Nebraska?
About 540 chefs and head cooks are employed in Nebraska, not counting the self-employed.