What is the pay outlook for Retail & Food Services?
Job openings are high in retail and food services as more Americans spend money at stores and restaurants. While retail and food services wages are lower than the national average, wage growth is higher. Jobs in retail and food services generally require little formal education or training, making these jobs accessible to most job seekers.
Chef salary in US
A Chef salary range in US can vary based on important factors such as education, skills, certifications, and years of experience. A Chef in US can expect to see an entry level salary range of $33,047 to $62,936 per year, based on 61 salary contributions. At the highest seniority level, an experienced Chef in US can make a salary range of $42,159 to $108,014 with at least 2 years of experience, based on 102 salary contributions. The top 3 companies in US where a Chef gets the highest compensation are Salesforce, Kindred Healthcare, Inc. and Fairview Health Services. Bigger companies typically pay 32.48% more than smaller companies for a Chef.
Recent salaries shared by Chef
50 salaries
Job Title | Years of Experience
Total Pay
Base • Additional pay
Location
Date submitted
Job Title | Years of Experience
Location
Date submitted
Total Pay
Base • Additional pay
Chef
|
15+ years
$66K - $76K/yr
San Antonio, TX
submitted on Jun 15, 2026
$66K - $76K/yr
Chef
|
1-3 years
$40K/yr
($38K • $2K)
Pittsburgh, PA
submitted on Jun 14, 2026
$40K/yr
$38K • $2K
Chef
|
15+ years
$66K/yr
($66K • $0)
Orlando, FL
submitted on Jun 11, 2026
$66K/yr
$66K • $0
Chef
|
4-6 years
$42K - $49K/yr
Unity, MS
submitted on Jun 2, 2026
$42K - $49K/yr
Chef
|
1-3 years
$29K/yr
($29K • $0)
Denton, TX
submitted on Jun 1, 2026
$29K/yr
$29K • $0
Anonymously share your salary to help the community.
Chef
|
10-14 years
$39K - $45K/yr
Middlebury, VT
submitted on May 31, 2026
$39K - $45K/yr
Chef
|
4-6 years
$23K/yr
($21K • $2K)
Chicago, IL
submitted on May 29, 2026
$23K/yr
$21K • $2K
Chef
|
1-3 years
$53K/yr
($53K • $0)
Washington, DC
submitted on May 26, 2026
$53K/yr
$53K • $0
Chef
|
4-6 years
$26K/yr
($26K • $0)
Texas City, TX
submitted on May 25, 2026
$26K/yr
$26K • $0
Chef
|
15+ years
$167K - $193K/yr
Chicago, IL
submitted on May 23, 2026
$167K - $193K/yr
Viewing 21 - 30 of 50
Top paying industries
The top 5 paying industries for Chef in United States are Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology with a median total pay of $81,766, Hotels & Travel Accommodation with a median total pay of $59,807, Transportation & Logistics with a median total pay of $58,774, Information Technology with a median total pay of $55,828, and Government & Public Administration with a median total pay of $55,414.
Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology
The top paying company in Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology for Chef is Johnson & Johnson.
Frequently asked questions about Chef salaries
The average salary for Chef is $60,356 per year or $29 per hour, with top earners making up to $98,275 (90th percentile). Typically, pay ranges from $46,970 (25th percentile) to $78,243 (75th percentile) annually. Salary estimates are based on 9842 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Chef employees.
The highest salary for Chef is $78,243 per year, $6,520 per month or $38 per hour.
The lowest salary for Chef is $46,970 per year, $3,914 per month or $23 per hour.
The salary trajectory of Chef ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $60,356 per year (estimate) and goes up to $357,962 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority.
Chefs often work late into the night. Their wages vary by region and employer, however, pay is usually highest in upscale restaurants and hotels, as well as major metropolitan and resort areas. The highest paid chefs typically attended specialized culinary institutes or apprenticeship programs, but there are instances where chefs with no formal training have opened successful kitchens. Chefs earning a salary can raise their income by investing in their own human capital to move to a higher-paying restaurant. Chefs who own their own restaurant can work to advertise their services and grow their customer base.
According to ratings on Glassdoor, approximately 66% of chefs believe their current pay is satisfactory. Overall, a chef's salary qualifies as good thanks to $9,987.16 in additional earnings annually. A solid professional network, eight or more years of experience, and professional training also solidify salary.
Chef salaries vary extensively, ranging from $37,505.75 to $98,274.62 with an average of $50,368.60 if you follow the typical chef career path. Gaining experience in the field, building your network, and mastering job-specific skills impact earnings with time, and you can progress to a senior position as a head chef. In this role, you can earn a higher salary and total pay.
To make more money in your chef career, consider a bachelor's degree in culinary arts. Since it's not required at most establishments, it demonstrates a higher level of knowledge, skill, and dedication to your craft, scoring you a higher salary as a chef. Next, focus on gaining as much experience as possible, whether that's through hands-on internships, part-time roles, or on-the-job training. Not only should you master making diverse dishes from scratch, but you should be able to plan menus, order ingredients, handle a kitchen team, manage food safety procedures, and be on top of time management. Certification through the American Culinary Federation underscores your role by highlighting executive-level skills.
When negotiating salary in your chef position, always ask what the kitchen budget is. Every establishment has a budget range for their kitchen professionals, and whether that's $10,000 or $10 million depends on location, setting, and experience level. Seek out establishments with the highest budget in your area of expertise, and negotiate a 5-10% increase. If the salary range for sous-chefs runs between $50,000 and $60,000, for instance, negotiate toward $60,000 by demonstrating a higher level of kitchen knowledge, skill, training, and experience than your peers. Always factor in benefits, such as extra vacation time or job flexibility, and get any bonuses down in writing.
