Chefs and Head Cooks

Pay and outlook

Median annual wage, May 2025

$62,470

Half earn more, half earn less

Middle half earn

$48,440 – $78,750

25th to 75th percentile

People employed, May 2025

200,040

Wage and salary jobs (OEWS)

Projected change, 2025–35

+6.6%

At or above the all-jobs rate (3.5% to under 7%)

Openings a year (projected)

25,200

New jobs plus replacing people who leave

Typical education to enter

High school diploma or equivalent

BLS

• All figures are for the United States as a whole. Pay varies a lot by state and city.
• Wages are for everyone working in the occupation in May 2025, at every career stage. They are not starting salaries or figures for new graduates.
• Growth and openings are BLS projections for 2025–35. They are estimates, not promises. Openings include jobs that open up when people retire or change occupation, not just new jobs.

What the work involves

Direct and may participate in the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. May plan and price menu items, order supplies, and keep records and accounts.

Main tasks

• Monitor sanitation practices to ensure that employees follow standards and regulations.
• Instruct cooks or other workers in the preparation, cooking, garnishing, or presentation of food.
• Supervise or coordinate activities of cooks or workers engaged in food preparation.
• Order or requisition food or other supplies needed to ensure efficient operation.
• Inspect supplies, equipment, or work areas to ensure conformance to established standards.
• Check the quantity and quality of received products.
• Check the quality of raw or cooked food products to ensure that standards are met.
• Estimate amounts and costs of required supplies, such as food and ingredients.

Description and tasks from the O*NET® 31.0 Database.

Getting in

Typical education to enter (BLS)

High school diploma or equivalent

Work experience in a related job: 5 years or more

O*NET Job Zone 3

Medium preparation

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Fields of study that lead here

From the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk, which links 5 programmes to this occupation. A link means the programme prepares people for this kind of work. It doesn't mean the programme is required, or that it's the only route.

Related careers

Related occupations from the O*NET database, in its order.

• Bakers

  $37,160 median · +5.5% projected

• Cooks, Restaurant

  $37,390 median · +12.1% projected

• Cooks, Private Household

  $47,940 median · +5.1% projected

• Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

  $37,450 median · +2.8% projected

• Food Service Managers

  $69,390 median · +5.8% projected

• First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers

  $44,080 median · +5.4% projected