Chefs and Head Cooks Salary
Chefs and Head Cooks in Idaho make a median of $52,000 a year, or about $25 an hour. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $55,390 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,136/month, about 33.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Idaho. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $52K get you in Idaho?
About chefs and head cooks
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Idaho
Pay for chefs and head cooks in Idaho runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $62K. Rent runs $1,136/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho
Entry-level chefs and head cooks (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $50K spread from bottom to top.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary by metro in Idaho
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coeur d'Alene | $65K | +25% | 80 |
| Idaho Falls | $49K | -6% | 40 |
| Boise City | $48K | -9% | 270 |
Compare to other states
Track chefs and head cooks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Idaho numbers change.
Related careers in Food Service
Frequently asked questions
Can a chefs and head cook afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 32.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for chefs and head cooks in Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chefs and head cooks typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,015/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 56% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chefs and head cook a high-paying job in Idaho?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $52K here vs. $62K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for chefs and head cooks?
Idaho pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — below the national median.
How much do chefs and head cooks make in Idaho?
The median is $52,000 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,590, and experienced chefs and head cooks can clear $83,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,489/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 32.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a chefs and head cooks salary go in Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chefs and head cooks salary is worth about $55,390 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.