Chefs and Head Cooks Salary
Chefs and Head Cooks in High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area make a median of $71,430 a year, or about $34.34 an hour. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers.
So what does $71K get you in High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area?
About chefs and head cooks
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area
Entry-level chefs and head cooks (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Chefs and Head Cooks salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $80K | +28% | 740 |
| Hawaii | $77K | +24% | 1,240 |
| District of Columbia | $76K | +22% | 2,020 |
| Washington | $76K | +22% | 5,320 |
| North Dakota | $75K | +20% | 100 |
| New Jersey | $74K | +19% | 9,100 |
| Wyoming | $73K | +17% | 240 |
| South Carolina | $72K | +15% | 2,650 |
| New York | $71K | +13% | 17,430 |
| Tennessee | $70K | +12% | 3,820 |
| Massachusetts | $70K | +11% | 6,000 |
| Georgia | $66K | +6% | 3,680 |
| Vermont | $65K | +5% | 610 |
| Colorado | $65K | +5% | 3,970 |
| California | $65K | +3% | 31,670 |
| Missouri | $64K | +3% | 1,750 |
| Connecticut | $64K | +3% | 3,080 |
| Pennsylvania | $64K | +2% | 9,170 |
| Oregon | $64K | +2% | 2,510 |
| New Hampshire | $63K | +1% | 1,170 |
| Virginia | $63K | +1% | 3,600 |
| Minnesota | $63K | +0% | 1,730 |
| Alabama | $62K | -0% | 1,000 |
| Nevada | $62K | -0% | 3,940 |
| New Mexico | $62K | -0% | 770 |
| Maryland | $62K | -1% | 3,220 |
| Delaware | $61K | -2% | 590 |
| Wisconsin | $61K | -2% | 1,860 |
| North Carolina | $61K | -2% | 4,920 |
| West Virginia | $61K | -2% | 350 |
| Nebraska | $61K | -3% | 540 |
| Michigan | $60K | -4% | 5,360 |
| Arizona | $60K | -4% | 4,080 |
| Utah | $59K | -5% | 1,740 |
| Illinois | $59K | -6% | 8,290 |
| Oklahoma | $59K | -6% | 1,430 |
| Kansas | $58K | -7% | 860 |
| Florida | $58K | -7% | 19,670 |
| Montana | $57K | -8% | 720 |
| Maine | $57K | -9% | 1,250 |
| Texas | $56K | -10% | 13,270 |
| Mississippi | $55K | -12% | 840 |
| Ohio | $54K | -14% | 4,000 |
| Indiana | $52K | -16% | 1,940 |
| Alaska | $52K | -16% | 680 |
| Idaho | $52K | -17% | 550 |
| South Dakota | $48K | -22% | 300 |
| Kentucky | $48K | -23% | 1,790 |
| Iowa | $48K | -23% | 1,640 |
| Arkansas | $46K | -26% | 880 |
| Louisiana | $46K | -27% | 1,990 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track chefs and head cooks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chefs and head cook afford a 2BR apartment alone in High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area?
Yes — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 27% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,243/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chefs and head cooks in High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chefs and head cooks typically earn — is $28K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,654/month.
Is chefs and head cook a high-paying job in High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $71K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area compare to the national average for chefs and head cooks?
High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +14%.
How much do chefs and head cooks make in High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area?
The median is $71,430 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,560, and experienced chefs and head cooks can clear $83,490. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,610/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,243/month, which eats 27% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chefs and head cooks salary go in High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area?
High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chefs and head cooks salary is worth about $71,430 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chefs and head cooks get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.