Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Nevada
Chefs and Head Cooks in Nevada earn a median of $62,380 a year ($29.99 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,940 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,980 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $62,470. Nevada ranks 24th of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 2.5 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $67,380, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Nevada
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,410 | $17.51 |
| 25th percentile | $49,920 | $24.00 |
| Median | $62,380 | $29.99 |
| 75th percentile | $78,650 | $37.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,980 | $48.55 |
| Average (mean) | $67,380 | $32.39 |
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 | $5,198.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,599.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,399.23 |
| Weekly | $1,199.62 |
| Hourly | $29.99 |
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 Nevada
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $62,380 | 3,430 |
| Reno, NV | $62,070 | 350 |
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 Nevada
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,030 | $21.17 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,950 | $15.36 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $26,410 | $12.70 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,610 | $18.56 |
| Bartender | $27,460 | $13.20 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,460 | $13.20 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,460 | $16.09 |
| Dishwasher | $34,920 | $16.79 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,170 | $14.99 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,840 | $16.27 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,030 | $17.32 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,430 | $18.96 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $31,510 | $15.15 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,780 | $18.16 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Nevada
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 Nevada?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in Nevada is $62,380 a year, or $29.99 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Nevada?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in Nevada earn at least $100,980 a year. The top 25% earn $78,650 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Nevada?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,410 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $49,920 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Nevada?
About 3,940 chefs and head cooks are employed in Nevada, not counting the self-employed.