SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Las Cruces
Las Cruces, NM · 2 metro areas compared
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Las Cruces, NM is $61,030 per year, close to the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Las Cruces, NM is $61,030 per year, close to the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $31,700 at the tenth percentile to more than $94,420 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $47,550 to $84,370.
Employment stands at 40, or 0.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Santa Fe leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $72,020. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 109th of 274 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,700 | −49.3% |
| 25th | $47,550 | −23.9% |
| Median (50th) | $61,030 | −2.3% |
| 75th | $84,370 | +35.1% |
| 90th | $94,420 | +51.1% |
| Mean | $64,430 | +3.1% |
Other metro areas in New Mexico
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Fe | $72,020 | 100 | |
| 2 | Albuquerque | $60,040 | 390 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Las Cruces run 7.8% below the national average, so the median of $61,030 goes as far as $66,193 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$61,030as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$66,193US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $61,030 a year, 2.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,700 to $94,420 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 40 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Santa Fe, at $72,020.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Las Cruces, NM?
The median annual wage is $61,030, or $29.34 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,470, so pay in Las Cruces, NM is 2.3% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Las Cruces, NM earns more than $94,420 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,700 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Santa Fe, at $72,020 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 40 jobs in this occupation in Las Cruces, NM. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data