Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Eastern New Mexico

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area

Median annual salary $55,690 -8.7% vs national
Median hourly $26.77
10th percentile $46,580
90th percentile $91,980
Employed locally 60
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Eastern New Mexico stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Eastern New Mexico
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $46,580
    25th
    $50,130
    50th (median)
    $55,690
    75th
    $74,140
    90th
    $91,980

    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

    Related occupations in Eastern New Mexico

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,050
    Waiters and Waitresses$28,500
    Food Preparation Workers$28,330
    Cooks, Restaurant$30,070
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$38,720
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$31,150

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Eastern New Mexico?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Eastern New Mexico is $26.77, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $46.94 or more per hour.

    Is Eastern New Mexico above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Eastern New Mexico is 8.7% below 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 Eastern New Mexico?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $46,580 per year in Eastern New Mexico. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $50,130.