Culinary chef earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level culinary chef earnings begin at:

$23.71 per hour

$49,310 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level culinary chef earnings begin at:

$19.39 per hour

$40,320 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level culinary chef earnings begin at:

$13.64 per hour

$28,360 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level culinary chef earnings begin at:

$10.64 per hour

$22,120 per year

10th percentile

Starting level culinary chef earnings begin at:

$9.95 per hour

$20,700 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Culinary chef salary by state

State Name Average 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
Massachusetts $69,540
Georgia $66,230
Vermont $65,440
Colorado $65,400
California $64,500
Missouri $64,480
Connecticut $64,310
Pennsylvania $63,860
Oregon $63,600
New Hampshire $63,400
Virginia $63,270
Minnesota $62,600
Alabama $62,400
Nevada $62,380
New Mexico $62,250
Maryland $61,590
Delaware $61,440
Wisconsin $61,300
North Carolina $61,130
West Virginia $61,100
Nebraska $60,510
Michigan $60,070
Arizona $59,890
Utah $59,060
Illinois $58,830
Oklahoma $58,540
Kansas $58,390
Florida $58,240
Montana $57,470
Maine $57,010
Texas $56,080
Mississippi $54,850
Ohio $53,990
Alaska $52,190
Indiana $52,190
Idaho $52,000
South Dakota $48,470
Kentucky $48,070
Iowa $47,990
Arkansas $46,170
Louisiana $45,570
Guam $39,340
Virgin Islands, U.S. $36,750
Puerto Rico $28,360

How do culinary chef salaries compare to similar careers?

Culinary chefs earn 18% more than similar careers in Puerto Rico. On average, they make less than food science technologists but more than bartenders.

Career Median Salary
Food science technologist salary $36K
Restaurant manager salary $29K
Culinary chef salary $28K
Brewmaster salary $19K
Dietetic technician salary $18K
Butcher salary $18K
Bartender salary $18K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)