Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Oklahoma
Chefs and Head Cooks in Oklahoma earn a median of $58,540 a year ($28.14 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,430 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,450 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $62,470. Oklahoma ranks 36th of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 0.84 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $57,190, close to the median.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Oklahoma
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,920 | $13.90 |
| 25th percentile | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| Median | $58,540 | $28.14 |
| 75th percentile | $67,560 | $32.48 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,450 | $37.24 |
| Average (mean) | $57,190 | $27.49 |
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 | $4,878.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,439.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,251.54 |
| Weekly | $1,125.77 |
| Hourly | $28.14 |
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 Oklahoma
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, OK | $63,160 | 590 |
| Tulsa, OK | $54,930 | 520 |
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 Oklahoma
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $35,420 | $17.03 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $23,430 | $11.27 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $17,910 | $8.61 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $31,720 | $15.25 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $29,270 | $14.07 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,720 | $13.33 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,540 | $13.72 |
| Bartender | $24,790 | $11.92 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,830 | $12.90 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $24,740 | $11.89 |
| Dishwasher | $27,390 | $13.17 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $28,490 | $13.70 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,130 | $16.89 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $31,200 | $15.00 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Oklahoma
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 Oklahoma?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in Oklahoma is $58,540 a year, or $28.14 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Oklahoma?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in Oklahoma earn at least $77,450 a year. The top 25% earn $67,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Oklahoma?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,920 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $37,840 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Oklahoma?
About 1,430 chefs and head cooks are employed in Oklahoma, not counting the self-employed.