Chefs and Head Cooks Salary
Chefs and Head Cooks in New Hampshire make a median of $63,400 a year, or about $30.48 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $96K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.66), so that salary is closer to $60,004 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,528/month, about 34.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Hampshire. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $63K get you in New Hampshire?
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What this looks like in New Hampshire
Chefs and head cooks pay in New Hampshire tracks closely to the national median, $63K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,528/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.66), so groceries and services cost more too. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Hampshire
Entry-level chefs and head cooks (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $96K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary by metro in New Hampshire
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester-Nashua | $63K | -0% | 340 |
Compare to other states
Track chefs and head cooks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Hampshire numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chefs and head cook afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Hampshire?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 34.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,528/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/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 New Hampshire?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chefs and head cooks typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,413/month. At HUD’s $1,528/month FMR, rent would take 63% 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 New Hampshire?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $63K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does New Hampshire compare to the national average for chefs and head cooks?
New Hampshire pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $60K — below the national median.
How much do chefs and head cooks make in New Hampshire?
The median is $63,400 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,220, and experienced chefs and head cooks can clear $95,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in New Hampshire?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,415/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,528/month, which eats 34.6% 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 New Hampshire?
New Hampshire has a Regional Price Parity of 105.66 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chefs and head cooks salary is worth about $60,004 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.