Chefs and Head Cooks earn $62,470 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $48,440 and $78,750. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
Direct and may participate in the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. May plan and price menu items, order supplies, and keep records and accounts.
Also known as:
Chefs and Head Cooks earn $62,470 nationally, near the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $48,440 and $78,750. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
Near the national median for college graduates.
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Chefs and Head Cooks roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
High time pressure and significant consequences for errors. Deadline-driven or high-stakes decisions are common.
The BLS projects +7.1% employment change for Chefs and Head Cooks through 2034, roughly in line with the national average of +5%. About 24,400 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
About as fast as average.
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
The five states below employ the most Chefs and Head Cooks professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $62,470 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 26,500 | $66,780 | +6.9% |
| 2 | Florida | 17,170 | $59,580 | -4.6% |
| 3 | Texas | 16,550 | $51,050 | -18.3% |
| 4 | New York | 15,420 | $64,300 | +2.9% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 7,060 | $59,630 | -4.5% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
Most Chefs and Head Cooks positions require a high school diploma or equivalent to qualify. The program below is the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Culinary Arts | 22,680 | $47,668 | 632 |
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victor Valley College Victorville, CA | 90 | $1,947 | $36,119 |
| 2 | College of the Ozarks Point Lookout, MO | 88 | $6,100 | $41,592 |
| 3 | South Georgia Technical College Americus, GA | 86 | $1,164 | $30,364 |
| 4 | South Florida State College Avon Park, FL | 86 | $3,877 | $39,990 |
| 5 | Manatee Technical College Bradenton, FL | 85 | $1,808 | $38,129 |
| 6 | Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FL | 84 | $3,815 | $38,315 |
Once you've sized up Chefs and Head Cooks, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
See if the degree that leads to Chefs and Head Cooks pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
The data on Chefs and Head Cooks shows 4 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
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