Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Puerto Rico
Chefs and Head Cooks in Puerto Rico earn a median of $30,800 a year ($14.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 770 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,580 for the top 10%. That is 51% lower than the national median of $62,470. There are 0.82 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.64). The average (mean) salary is $41,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Puerto Rico
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,730 | $11.41 |
| 25th percentile | $26,580 | $12.78 |
| Median | $30,800 | $14.81 |
| 75th percentile | $47,840 | $23.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,580 | $32.97 |
| Average (mean) | $41,480 | $19.94 |
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 | $2,566.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,283.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,184.62 |
| Weekly | $592.31 |
| Hourly | $14.81 |
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 Puerto Rico
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $35,990 | 550 |
| Aguadilla, PR | $31,060 | 50 |
| Ponce, PR | $30,800 | 50 |
| Mayaguez, PR | $26,440 | 30 |
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 Puerto Rico
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $28,420 | $13.66 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,030 | $10.59 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $22,790 | $10.96 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $24,650 | $11.85 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $26,260 | $12.62 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $22,400 | $10.77 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $22,640 | $10.88 |
| Bartender | $22,630 | $10.88 |
| Dishwasher | $23,020 | $11.07 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $22,500 | $10.82 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $22,480 | $10.81 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $22,450 | $10.79 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $21,840 | $10.50 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $22,620 | $10.88 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Puerto Rico
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 Puerto Rico?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in Puerto Rico is $30,800 a year, or $14.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Puerto Rico?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in Puerto Rico earn at least $68,580 a year. The top 25% earn $47,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Puerto Rico?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,730 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $26,580 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Puerto Rico?
About 770 chefs and head cooks are employed in Puerto Rico, not counting the self-employed.