Chefs and Head Cooks salary in New Jersey
Chefs and Head Cooks in New Jersey earn a median of $74,280 a year ($35.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,100 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,100 for the top 10%. That is 19% higher than the national median of $62,470. New Jersey ranks 6th of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 2.1 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $72,930, close to the median.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,200 | $23.66 |
| 25th percentile | $59,860 | $28.78 |
| Median | $74,280 | $35.71 |
| 75th percentile | $82,200 | $39.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,100 | $48.13 |
| Average (mean) | $72,930 | $35.06 |
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 | $6,190 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,095 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,856.92 |
| Weekly | $1,428.46 |
| Hourly | $35.71 |
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 New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $75,740 | 900 |
| Vineland, NJ | $75,050 | 100 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $71,780 | 20,010 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $70,210 | 480 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $65,680 | 5,700 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $63,220 | 570 |
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 New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,420 | $23.28 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,150 | $16.42 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,960 | $21.62 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,170 | $16.43 |
| Bartender | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,390 | $17.50 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,050 | $16.37 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,520 | $21.40 |
| Dishwasher | $35,900 | $17.26 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,290 | $17.45 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $40,720 | $19.58 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in New Jersey is $74,280 a year, or $35.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in New Jersey earn at least $100,100 a year. The top 25% earn $82,200 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,200 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $59,860 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in New Jersey?
About 9,100 chefs and head cooks are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.