Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT metro area earn a median of $57,540 a year ($27.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 230 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,670 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 3% lower than the Utah statewide median of $59,060. There are 0.75 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.58). The average (mean) salary is $53,670, close to the median.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,740 | $12.85 |
| 25th percentile | $28,870 | $13.88 |
| Median | $57,540 | $27.66 |
| 75th percentile | $70,990 | $34.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,670 | $36.38 |
| Average (mean) | $53,670 | $25.80 |
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 | $4,795 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,397.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,213.08 |
| Weekly | $1,106.54 |
| Hourly | $27.66 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $60,030 | 900 |
| Ogden, UT | $54,260 | 170 |
| Logan, UT-ID | $51,220 | 40 |
| St. George, UT | $46,610 | 120 |
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 Utah statewide figures.
Related jobs in Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,610 | $19.04 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,710 | $13.80 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,490 | $14.66 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,420 | $16.55 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $34,700 | $16.68 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,100 | $17.84 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,100 | $14.47 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,040 | $13.00 |
| Dishwasher | $31,180 | $14.99 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,210 | $14.04 |
| Bartender | $39,730 | $19.10 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,360 | $17.48 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT
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 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT metro area is $57,540 a year, or $27.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT metro area earn at least $75,670 a year. The top 25% earn $70,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,740 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $28,870 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT?
About 230 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT metro area, not counting the self-employed.