Chefs and Head Cooks Salary Trend (2011–2024)
Historical salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Median Salary in 2024
$60,990
↑ 44.0% since 2011
Median Salary Over Time
Chefs and Head Cooks — Median Annual Salary
Employment Over Time
Chefs and Head Cooks — Total Employment
Key Insights
📈Salaries grew 44.0% since 2011 ($42,350 → $60,990)
🏆Peak year: 2024 at $60,990
🦠COVID impact: Salary rose 3.6% from 2019 to 2020, likely reflecting workforce composition changes.
💰After inflation (~3%/yr), real growth is approximately -2%
Year-by-Year Salary Data
| Year | Median Salary | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $60,990 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | $58,920 | +4.2% |
| 2022 | $56,520 | +12.7% |
| 2021 | $50,160 | -6.0% |
| 2020 | $53,380 | +3.6% |
| 2019 | $51,530 | +6.3% |
| 2018 | $48,460 | +5.5% |
| 2017 | $45,950 | +6.4% |
| 2016 | $43,180 | +4.0% |
| 2015 | $41,500 | -0.3% |
| 2014 | $41,610 | -2.1% |
| 2013 | $42,490 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | $42,480 | +0.3% |
| 2011 | $42,350 | — |
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2011–2024. All figures are annual median wages in nominal dollars.