Chefs and Head Cooks Pay Range in New York
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$46,260
- 25th Percentile — Junior$55,070
- 50th Percentile — Median$70,670
- 75th Percentile — Senior$93,240
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$120,370
Half of Chefs and Head Cooks in New York earn more than $70,670. The top 10% make $120,370 or more, while entry-level workers start around $46,260.
Chefs and Head Cooks in New York: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- New York ranks 4th of 51 states for Chefs and Head Cooks pay, at $74,840 per year (12.2% above the U.S. average of $66,700).
- 17,430 people work as Chefs and Head Cooks in New York — 8.7% of all U.S. Chefs and Head Cooks jobs.
- Location quotient 1.40: Chefs and Head Cooks jobs are more concentrated in New York than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $46,260; the top 10% earn over $120,370.
- Hourly equivalent: $35.98 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Rhode Island at $84,860.
- Among hospitality jobs in New York, Bartenders pays the most ($61,670).
Chefs and Head Cooks Job Market in New York
Key factors affecting compensation
New York's key industries are Finance, Technology, Media, and its job market is rated very strong. Chefs and Head Cooks here earn $74,840 on average, placing the state 4th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.38 (U.S. = 1.00), a New York salary of $74,840 is roughly equivalent to $54,232 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Rhode Island ($84,860), Hawaii ($80,720), District of Columbia ($79,660) are the closest alternatives for Chefs and Head Cooks weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Hospitality Jobs in New York
Related career salary benchmarks
- Bartenders $61,670/yr New York 17.6% vs this role
- Waiters and Waitresses $54,750/yr New York 26.8% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation $50,590/yr New York 32.4% vs this role
- Cooks Institution and Cafeteria $46,850/yr New York 37.4% vs this role
- Cooks Restaurant $43,150/yr New York 42.3% vs this role
- Dining Room Attendants and Bartender Helpers $42,480/yr New York 43.2% vs this role
- Fast Food and Counter Workers $36,920/yr New York 50.7% vs this role
- Cooks Fast Food $36,800/yr New York 50.8% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Chefs and Head Cooks salary in New York?
The average Chefs and Head Cooks salary in New York is $74,840 per year (median $70,670), which is 12.2% above the national average of $66,700.
How does New York rank for Chefs and Head Cooks pay?
New York ranks 4th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Rhode Island ($84,860/yr).
How much do entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks make in New York?
The lowest-paid 10% of Chefs and Head Cooks in New York earn about $46,260 per year and the 25th percentile is $55,070.
How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in New York?
About $35.98 per hour, based on the $74,840 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Chefs and Head Cooks work in New York?
BLS counts 17,430 Chefs and Head Cooks jobs in New York (OEWS May 2025).
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