Chefs and Head Cooks Salary
Chefs and Head Cooks in Montana make a median of $57,470 a year, or about $27.63 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $59,247 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 29.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $57K get you in Montana?
About chefs and head cooks
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Montana
Chefs and head cooks pay in Montana tracks closely to the national median, $57K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level chefs and head cooks (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $42K spread from bottom to top.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary by metro in Montana
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman | $62K | +9% | 140 |
| Billings | $60K | +5% | N/A |
| Helena | $58K | +0% | 40 |
| Missoula | $57K | -1% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track chefs and head cooks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
Related careers in Food Service
Frequently asked questions
Can a chefs and head cook afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 29.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chefs and head cooks in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chefs and head cooks typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,292/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 Montana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $57K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Montana compare to the national average for chefs and head cooks?
Montana pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — below the national median.
How much do chefs and head cooks make in Montana?
The median is $57,470 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,200, and experienced chefs and head cooks can clear $80,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,828/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 29.5% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (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 $59,247 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.