SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — New York
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in New York, NY comes to $71,780 a year, ahead of the national median of $62,470 by 14.9%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in New York, NY comes to $71,780 a year, ahead of the national median of $62,470 by 14.9%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $55,070 and $89,860. The lowest tenth earn under $46,530, while the highest tenth earn more than $120,370.
Employment stands at 20,010, or 2.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Albany leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $84,430. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 402nd of 757 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,530 | −25.5% |
| 25th | $55,070 | −11.8% |
| Median (50th) | $71,780 | +14.9% |
| 75th | $89,860 | +43.8% |
| 90th | $120,370 | +92.7% |
| Mean | $74,840 | +19.8% |
Other metro areas in New York
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albany | $84,430 | 470 | |
| 2 | Kingston | $74,710 | 140 | |
| 3 | Buffalo | $74,290 | 640 | |
| 4 | Kiryas Joel | $72,340 | 360 | |
| 5 | Glens Falls | $67,590 | 80 | |
| 6 | Rochester | $66,080 | 690 | |
| 7 | Syracuse | $64,170 | 240 | |
| 8 | Ithaca | $64,010 | 80 | |
| 9 | Elmira | $63,410 | 40 | |
| 10 | Binghamton | $63,010 | 110 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New York run 7.9% above the national average, so the median of $71,780 buys what $66,525 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 6.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$71,780as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$66,525US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $71,780 a year, 14.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $46,530 to $120,370 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 20,010 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Albany, at $84,430.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in New York, NY?
The median annual wage is $71,780, or $34.51 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 New York, NY is 14.9% higher. 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 New York, NY earns more than $120,370 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $46,530 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 Albany, at $84,430 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 20,010 jobs in this occupation in New York, NY. 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.
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