SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Southwestern New Hampshire
Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area · 1 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $59,750 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $62,470.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $59,750 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $62,470. Half of workers earn between $50,670 and $71,420. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $45,720 and the ninetieth at $95,990.
The area has 80 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.35 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Manchester leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $63,260. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 103rd of 224 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $45,720 | −26.8% |
| 25th | $50,670 | −18.9% |
| Median (50th) | $59,750 | −4.4% |
| 75th | $71,420 | +14.3% |
| 90th | $95,990 | +53.7% |
| Mean | $62,800 | +0.5% |
Other metro areas in New Hampshire
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester | $63,260 | 340 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Southwestern New Hampshire run 4.2% above the national average, so the median of $59,750 buys what $57,342 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 8.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$59,750as reported by BLSLocal price level
104.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$57,342US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,750 a year, 4.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $45,720 to $95,990 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 80 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Manchester, at $63,260.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Southwestern New Hampshire, NH?
The median annual wage is $59,750, or $28.73 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 Southwestern New Hampshire, NH is 4.4% 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 Southwestern New Hampshire, NH earns more than $95,990 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $45,720 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 Manchester, at $63,260 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 80 jobs in this occupation in Southwestern New Hampshire, NH. 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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