How much does a head chef make?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics groups this role under Chefs and Head Cooks (SOC 35-1011). In its May 2025 wage survey, the national median was $30.03 an hour, or about $62,470 a year for full-time work, across roughly 200,040 people employed nationally. The middle of the market sits between $18.22 at the 10th percentile and $47.39 at the 90th.
Head Chef pay in Boston
In the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area, the median for chefs and head cooks was $34.84 an hour ($72,470a year), reflecting Massachusetts' higher minimum wage and cost of living.
What moves the number
Head chef pay is driven by the restaurant's size and revenue, the cuisine and concept, the market, and how much management you carry beyond cooking. Owners often pay more for chefs who can control cost and build stable teams. Roles with salary plus bonus or profit sharing can differ a lot from straight hourly pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. BLS figures for tipped roles may not capture all tip income. The BLS category is the closest official match for this role, not an exact one.
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