Chefs and Head Cooks
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Chefs and Head Cooks in the United States earn a median salary of $62,470 per year — about $30 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 197K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +7%.
AI & Automation Risk
The core of the job is highly physical and sensory, requiring manual dexterity, real-time human leadership in a fast-paced kitchen, and the use of taste and smell. While AI can significantly assist with peripheral digital tasks like menu planning, inventory management, and recipe generation, it cannot replace the physical oversight and hands-on food preparation essential to the role.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terre Haute, INBEST VALUE | $85,920 | Below avg (87.8) | $97,862 |
| Morgantown, WV | $81,330 | Below avg (93.3) | $87,149 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $84,430 | Average (99.6) | $84,798 |
| Jackson, TN | $69,280 | Below avg (85.5) | $81,008 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $72,670 | Below avg (91.1) | $79,812 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $68,830 | Below avg (87.9) | $78,276 |
| Vineland, NJ | $75,050 | Below avg (96.0) | $78,203 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $79,340 | Average (101.8) | $77,958 |
| Florence, SC | $67,550 | Below avg (86.8) | $77,846 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $84,990 | Above avg (109.4) | $77,692 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $74,290 | Below avg (95.8) | $77,511 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $75,740 | Average (98.9) | $76,616 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $71,700 | Below avg (93.6) | $76,568 |
| Springfield, MO | $67,460 | Below avg (88.6) | $76,153 |
| Sandusky, OH | $67,190 | Below avg (89.3) | $75,257 |