Chefs and Head Cooks Salary
Chefs and Head Cooks in Rhode Island make a median of $79,930 a year, or about $38.43 an hour. The range runs from $57K at the entry level to $127K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.77), that's roughly $78,540 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,544/month, or 29.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Rhode Island. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $80K get you in Rhode Island?
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What this looks like in Rhode Island
Rhode Island sits well above the national pay line for chefs and head cooks, local pay runs about 28% higher than the U.S. median of $62K. Rent runs $1,544/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 101.77) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rhode Island
Entry-level chefs and head cooks (10th percentile) start around $57K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $127K or more, a $70K spread from bottom to top.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary by metro in Rhode Island
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick | $79K | -1% | 1,070 |
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Track chefs and head cooks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rhode Island numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chefs and head cook afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rhode Island?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 29.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,544/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chefs and head cooks in Rhode Island?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chefs and head cooks typically earn — is $57K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,401/month. At HUD’s $1,544/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Rhode Island?
Local pay is 28% above the national median — $80K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does Rhode Island compare to the national average for chefs and head cooks?
Rhode Island pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chefs and head cooks make in Rhode Island?
The median is $79,930 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,680, and experienced chefs and head cooks can clear $127,080. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Rhode Island?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,166/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,544/month, which eats 29.9% 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 Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has a Regional Price Parity of 101.77 (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 $78,540 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.