SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — San Juan
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in San Juan, PR is $35,990 per year, substantially below the national median of $62,470 — a gap of 42.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in San Juan, PR is $35,990 per year, substantially below the national median of $62,470 — a gap of 42.4%. Pay ranges from under $23,730 at the tenth percentile to more than $72,290 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $27,140 to $47,840.
Employment stands at 550, or 0.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 263rd of 514 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,730 | −62.0% |
| 25th | $27,140 | −56.6% |
| Median (50th) | $35,990 | −42.4% |
| 75th | $47,840 | −23.4% |
| 90th | $72,290 | +15.7% |
| Mean | $43,240 | −30.8% |
Key takeaways
- Median pay is $35,990 a year, 42.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $23,730 to $72,290 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 550 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in San Juan, PR?
The median annual wage is $35,990, or $17.30 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 San Juan, PR is 42.4% 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 San Juan, PR earns more than $72,290 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $23,730 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.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 550 jobs in this occupation in San Juan, PR. 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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