Chefs and Head Cooks salary in New York
Chefs and Head Cooks in New York earn a median of $70,670 a year ($33.98 an hour), based on BLS data for 17,430 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $120,370 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $62,470. New York ranks 9th of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 1.8 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $74,840, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in New York
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,260 | $22.24 |
| 25th percentile | $55,070 | $26.48 |
| Median | $70,670 | $33.98 |
| 75th percentile | $93,240 | $44.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $120,370 | $57.87 |
| Average (mean) | $74,840 | $35.98 |
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 | $5,889.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,944.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,718.08 |
| Weekly | $1,359.04 |
| Hourly | $33.98 |
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 York
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $84,430 | 470 |
| Kingston, NY | $74,710 | 140 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $74,290 | 640 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $72,340 | 360 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $71,780 | 20,010 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $67,590 | 80 |
| Rochester, NY | $66,080 | 690 |
| Syracuse, NY | $64,170 | 240 |
| Ithaca, NY | $64,010 | 80 |
| Elmira, NY | $63,410 | 40 |
| Binghamton, NY | $63,010 | 110 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $62,740 | 40 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $61,090 | 220 |
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 York
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $47,190 | $22.69 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $47,020 | $22.61 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,610 | $17.12 |
| Bartender | $61,210 | $29.43 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,740 | $17.66 |
| Dishwasher | $35,450 | $17.04 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,490 | $17.54 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,550 | $17.09 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $45,880 | $22.06 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $39,370 | $18.93 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,770 | $17.20 |
| Cooks, All Other | $43,000 | $20.67 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in New York
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 York?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in New York is $70,670 a year, or $33.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $120,370 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in New York?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in New York earn at least $120,370 a year. The top 25% earn $93,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in New York?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,260 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $55,070 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in New York?
About 17,430 chefs and head cooks are employed in New York, not counting the self-employed.