What is the highest salary for Executive Chef?

The highest salary for Executive Chef is $121,780 per year, $10,148 per month or $59 per hour.

What is the lowest salary for Executive Chef?

The lowest salary for Executive Chef is $73,109 per year, $6,092 per month or $35 per hour.

Do Executive Chefs Make Good Money in United States?

Anonymous Glassdoor reviews of executive chef salaries show that 66% are happy with what they're paid. There's the opportunity to grow depending on practical experience and specialist training, with a chance to earn an average of $24,724.51 on top of your base salary.

How Much Does an Executive Chef Make Over Time in United States?

Beginning the executive chef career path requires you to start from a basic chef job and work your way up over time — those with more experience and higher quality certifications and degrees often earn more than entry-level chefs. The salary as an executive chef ranges from $58,542.93 to $152,845.80, and compensation can heavily depend on your practical skills.

How to Make More Money as an Executive Chef

As you don't require any formal training to get into an entry-level chef's position, making more money as an executive chef relies on experience and networking. The more hands-on experience you have in a kitchen working with different cuisines and cooking methods, the more you can make. High-profile restaurants may pay a higher salary, so network with other professionals in the industry to find out about moving into these positions. Choosing to study at a culinary school to gain further qualifications and formal training can boost your abilities in the kitchen and teach you further skills like managing staff and developing recipes — all skills worthy of higher pay.

How to Negotiate a Higher Salary as an Executive Chef

Negotiating your salary as an executive chef isn't just about proving your ability to make delicious food — you'll need to prove that you've helped the business in other ways, too. Approaching negotiations in your current position or after a new job offer can involve demonstrating how you have saved the company money, improved customer satisfaction, or otherwise benefited the restaurant or business in a measurable way. Also, check the average salary of similar establishments in your area for executive chefs—it's vital you compare what you earn now to what you could earn, and give your manager a specific figure you'd be happy to receive.

Executive Chef Salaries

How much does Executive Chef make?

Q: How much does Executive Chef make?

The average salary for Executive Chef is $93,690 per year or $45 per hour, with top earners making up to $152,846 (90th percentile). Typically, pay ranges from $73,109 (25th percentile) to $121,780 (75th percentile) annually. Salary estimates are based on 6688 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Executive Chef employees.

Total pay range

$73K - $122K/yr

$94K/yrMedian total pay

Pay breakdown

$55K - $87K/yrBase pay

$19K - $35K/yrAdditional pay

About our data

Last updated Apr 10, 20256.7K Salaries submitted

How accurate is a total pay range of $73K-$122K/yr?

Your input helps Glassdoor refine our pay estimates over time.

Popular companies for Executive Chefs

12,683 results

Atria Senior Living2.9★

$101K - $166K/yr Total pay

$129K Median

Executive Director

CCS Fundraising3.2★

$83K - $126K/yr Total pay

$102K Median

Executive Director

Muscular Dystrophy Association2.8★

$80K - $118K/yr Total pay

$97K Median

Executive Director

Comcast3.7★

$237K - $369K/yr Total pay

$294K Median

Executive Director

EY3.6★

$219K - $325K/yr Total pay

$266K Median

Executive Director

Viewing 21 - 25 of 12683

Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview

Illustration of an economist reviewing pay data

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.

Recent salaries shared by Executive Chef

50 salaries

Job Title | Years of Experience

Base • Additional pay

Location

Date submitted

Job Title | Years of Experience

Location

Date submitted

Base • Additional pay

Executive Chef

|

15+ years

$151K/yr

($132K • $19K)

Newbury Park, CA

submitted on Feb 24, 2026

$151K/yr

$132K • $19K

Executive Chef

|

15+ years

$70K/yr

($70K • $0)

Winston-Salem, NC

submitted on Feb 15, 2026

$70K/yr

$70K • $0

Executive Chef

|

15+ years

$70K - $82K/yr

Detroit, MI

submitted on Jan 26, 2026

$70K - $82K/yr

Executive Chef

|

15+ years

$99K/yr

($99K • $0)

Kingman, AZ

submitted on Jan 23, 2026

$99K/yr

$99K • $0

Executive Chef

|

10-14 years

$49K/yr

($49K • $0)

Minneapolis, MN

submitted on Jan 22, 2026

$49K/yr

$49K • $0

Anonymously share your salary to help the community.

Executive Chef

|

15+ years

$110K/yr

($101K • $9K)

Durham, NC

submitted on Jan 22, 2026

$110K/yr

$101K • $9K

Executive Chef

|

15+ years

$123K/yr

($123K • $0)

Saint Louis, MO

submitted on Jan 18, 2026

$123K/yr

$123K • $0

Executive Chef

|

15+ years

$82K/yr

($82K • $0)

Port Charlotte, FL

submitted on Jan 16, 2026

$82K/yr

$82K • $0

Executive Chef

|

15+ years

$108K/yr

($108K • $0)

Irving, TX

submitted on Jan 16, 2026

$108K/yr

$108K • $0

Executive Chef

|

15+ years

$113K/yr

($98K • $15K)

Seattle, WA

submitted on Jan 15, 2026

$113K/yr

$98K • $15K

Viewing 41 - 50 of 50

Top paying industries

The top 5 paying industries for Executive Chef in United States are Hotels & Travel Accommodation with a median total pay of $91,802, Restaurants & Food Service with a median total pay of $85,304, Nonprofit & NGO with a median total pay of $82,765, Manufacturing with a median total pay of $82,355, and Government & Public Administration with a median total pay of $82,297.

Hotels & Travel Accommodation

Top paying companies in Hotels & Travel Accommodation for Executive Chef are Columbia Hospitality, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, and Four Seasons.

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Executive Chef Salaries

How much does Executive Chef make?

About our data

Popular companies for Executive Chefs

Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview

Recent salaries shared by Executive Chef

Top paying industries

Hotels & Travel Accommodation

Jobs you may like

Frequently asked questions about Executive Chef salaries

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How much does Executive Chef make?

About our data

Popular companies for Executive Chefs

Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview

Recent salaries shared by Executive Chef

Top paying industries

Hotels & Travel Accommodation

Frequently asked questions about Executive Chef salaries

Jobs you may like