Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Boston, MA-NH

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Median annual salary $74,640 +22.4% vs national
Median hourly $35.88
10th percentile $47,730
90th percentile $112,630
Employed locally 4,020
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Boston, MA-NH
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $47,730
    25th
    $59,390
    50th (median)
    $74,640
    75th
    $94,410
    90th
    $112,630

    Boston economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $112,484 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 66% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 34% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $78,390
    Naples-Marco Island, FL $74,990
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $74,970
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $73,620
    Barnstable Town, MA $72,570
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $72,220

    Related occupations in Boston, MA-NH

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $35,430
    Waiters and Waitresses $37,040
    Cooks, Restaurant $46,970
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $47,200
    Bartenders $36,260
    Food Preparation Workers $38,090

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Boston?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Boston, MA-NH is $35.88, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $48.43 or more per hour.

    Is Boston above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Boston, MA-NH is 22.4% above the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Boston?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $47,730 per year in Boston, MA-NH. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $59,390.