Chefs and Head Cooks Salary
Chefs and Head Cooks in Vermont make a median of $65,440 a year, or about $31.46 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.95), that's roughly $64,824 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,498/month, about 35.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Vermont. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $65K get you in Vermont?
About chefs and head cooks
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What this looks like in Vermont
Chefs and head cooks pay in Vermont tracks closely to the national median, $65K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,498/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 100.95) 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, Vermont
Entry-level chefs and head cooks (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $65K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary by metro in Vermont
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington-South Burlington | $70K | +7% | 200 |
Compare to other states
Track chefs and head cooks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Vermont numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chefs and head cook afford a 2BR apartment alone in Vermont?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $65K, rent takes 34.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,498/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 Vermont?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chefs and head cooks typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,937/month. At HUD’s $1,498/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Vermont?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $65K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Vermont compare to the national average for chefs and head cooks?
Vermont pays $65K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.95), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chefs and head cooks make in Vermont?
The median is $65,440 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,950, and experienced chefs and head cooks can clear $83,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $65K enough to live in Vermont?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,379/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,498/month, which eats 34.2% 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 Vermont?
Vermont has a Regional Price Parity of 100.95 (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 $64,824 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.