Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Denver, CO

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO

Median annual salary $70,090 +14.9% vs national
Median hourly $33.70
10th percentile $50,020
90th percentile $94,900
Employed locally 1,980
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Denver, CO stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Denver, CO
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $50,020
    25th
    $60,010
    50th (median)
    $70,090
    75th
    $76,780
    90th
    $94,900

    Denver economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,339 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 68% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 32% 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
    Naples-Marco Island, FL $74,990
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $74,970
    District of Columbia $74,000
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $71,600
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $69,610
    Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area $66,080

    Related occupations in Denver, CO

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $36,310
    Waiters and Waitresses $33,870
    Cooks, Restaurant $43,420
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $50,540
    Bartenders $32,530
    Food Preparation Workers $39,300

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Denver, CO is $33.70, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $46.83 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Denver, CO is 14.9% 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 Denver?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $50,020 per year in Denver, CO. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $60,010.