Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Utah
Chefs and Head Cooks in Utah earn a median of $59,060 a year ($28.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,740 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,420 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $62,470. Utah ranks 34th of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 1.0 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $58,880, close to the median.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Utah
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,940 | $13.43 |
| 25th percentile | $41,750 | $20.07 |
| Median | $59,060 | $28.39 |
| 75th percentile | $75,830 | $36.46 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,420 | $38.18 |
| Average (mean) | $58,880 | $28.31 |
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 | $4,921.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,460.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,271.54 |
| Weekly | $1,135.77 |
| Hourly | $28.39 |
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 Utah
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $60,030 | 900 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $57,540 | 230 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Utah
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,750 | $18.63 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,670 | $13.78 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,150 | $14.98 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,540 | $16.12 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,490 | $17.55 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,200 | $18.36 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,610 | $14.24 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,010 | $12.99 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $31,800 | $15.29 |
| Dishwasher | $31,830 | $15.30 |
| Bartender | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,170 | $14.51 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,010 | $18.27 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $37,180 | $17.87 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Utah
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 Utah?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in Utah is $59,060 a year, or $28.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Utah?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in Utah earn at least $79,420 a year. The top 25% earn $75,830 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Utah?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,940 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $41,750 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Utah?
About 1,740 chefs and head cooks are employed in Utah, not counting the self-employed.