Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Utica-Rome, NY
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Utica-Rome, NY metro area earn a median of $61,090 a year ($29.37 an hour), based on BLS data for 220 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,850 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 14% lower than the New York statewide median of $70,670. There are 1.9 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $62,310, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Utica-Rome, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,180 | $20.28 |
| 25th percentile | $46,540 | $22.38 |
| Median | $61,090 | $29.37 |
| 75th percentile | $74,180 | $35.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,850 | $40.31 |
| Average (mean) | $62,310 | $29.96 |
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 | $5,090.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,545.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,349.62 |
| Weekly | $1,174.81 |
| Hourly | $29.37 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $84,430 | 470 |
| Kingston, NY | $74,710 | 140 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $74,290 | 640 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $72,340 | 360 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $71,780 | 20,010 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $67,590 | 80 |
| Rochester, NY | $66,080 | 690 |
| Syracuse, NY | $64,170 | 240 |
| Ithaca, NY | $64,010 | 80 |
| Elmira, NY | $63,410 | 40 |
| Binghamton, NY | $63,010 | 110 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $62,740 | 40 |
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 New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Utica-Rome, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,960 | $21.13 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,080 | $15.91 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $45,950 | $22.09 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,730 | $16.70 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,150 | $18.34 |
| Bartender | $38,860 | $18.68 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,250 | $15.99 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,430 | $16.55 |
| Dishwasher | $34,530 | $16.60 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,690 | $16.68 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $41,660 | $20.03 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $33,590 | $16.15 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,100 | $15.91 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Utica-Rome, NY
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 Utica-Rome, NY?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Utica-Rome, NY metro area is $61,090 a year, or $29.37 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,850 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Utica-Rome, NY?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Utica-Rome, NY metro area earn at least $83,850 a year. The top 25% earn $74,180 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Utica-Rome, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,180 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $46,540 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Utica-Rome, NY?
About 220 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Utica-Rome, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.