Chefs and Head Cooks salary in New Mexico
Chefs and Head Cooks in New Mexico earn a median of $62,250 a year ($29.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 770 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,010 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $62,470. New Mexico ranks 25th of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 0.89 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.69). The average (mean) salary is $67,080, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in New Mexico
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,370 | $20.85 |
| 25th percentile | $48,540 | $23.34 |
| Median | $62,250 | $29.93 |
| 75th percentile | $83,260 | $40.03 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,010 | $48.08 |
| Average (mean) | $67,080 | $32.25 |
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 | $5,187.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,593.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,394.23 |
| Weekly | $1,197.12 |
| Hourly | $29.93 |
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 Mexico
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe, NM | $72,020 | 100 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $61,030 | 40 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $60,040 | 390 |
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 Mexico
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,310 | $18.90 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,700 | $13.80 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,920 | $17.75 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,020 | $16.84 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,370 | $16.04 |
| Bartender | $36,980 | $17.78 |
| Dishwasher | $30,520 | $14.67 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,470 | $17.54 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,360 | $14.12 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,480 | $13.69 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,190 | $14.52 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,150 | $17.86 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,740 | $17.19 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,250 | $17.43 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in New Mexico
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 Mexico?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in New Mexico is $62,250 a year, or $29.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,010 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in New Mexico?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in New Mexico earn at least $100,010 a year. The top 25% earn $83,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in New Mexico?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,370 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $48,540 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in New Mexico?
About 770 chefs and head cooks are employed in New Mexico, not counting the self-employed.