Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Omaha, NE-IA
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Omaha, NE-IA metro area earn a median of $62,240 a year ($29.92 an hour), based on BLS data for 330 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,990 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 3% higher than the Nebraska statewide median of $60,510. There are 0.66 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.51). The average (mean) salary is $66,820, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Omaha, NE-IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,720 | $19.58 |
| 25th percentile | $45,910 | $22.07 |
| Median | $62,240 | $29.92 |
| 75th percentile | $80,000 | $38.46 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,990 | $48.07 |
| Average (mean) | $66,820 | $32.13 |
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 | $5,186.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,593.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,393.85 |
| Weekly | $1,196.92 |
| Hourly | $29.92 |
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 other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln, NE | $59,680 | 140 |
| Ames, IA | $51,360 | 60 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $51,210 | 460 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $49,590 | 70 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $48,850 | 180 |
| Iowa City, IA | $48,760 | 160 |
| Dubuque, IA | $47,690 | 70 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $44,610 | 60 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $44,480 | 170 |
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 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Nebraska statewide figures.
Related jobs in Omaha, NE-IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $40,740 | $19.59 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,450 | $14.16 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,290 | $16.48 |
| Bartender | $34,630 | $16.65 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,140 | $17.37 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,500 | $13.70 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $31,220 | $15.01 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,170 | $14.99 |
| Dishwasher | $33,810 | $16.25 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,710 | $15.73 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $48,070 | $23.11 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Omaha, NE-IA
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 Omaha, NE-IA?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Omaha, NE-IA metro area is $62,240 a year, or $29.92 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Omaha, NE-IA?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Omaha, NE-IA metro area earn at least $99,990 a year. The top 25% earn $80,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Omaha, NE-IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,720 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $45,910 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Omaha, NE-IA?
About 330 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Omaha, NE-IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.