Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Grand Junction, CO

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Grand Junction, CO

Median annual salary $56,150 -7.9% vs national
Median hourly $27.00
10th percentile $33,670
90th percentile $76,510
Employed locally 80
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Grand Junction, CO
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,670
    25th
    $47,870
    50th (median)
    $56,150
    75th
    $62,830
    90th
    $76,510

    Grand Junction economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,485 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 79% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 21% 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
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $70,090
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $69,610

    Related occupations in Grand Junction, CO

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $31,390
    Waiters and Waitresses $35,370
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $44,360
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,720
    Cooks, Fast Food $33,480
    Bartenders $31,020

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Grand Junction, CO is $27.00, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $40.66 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Grand Junction, CO is 7.9% 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 Grand Junction?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $33,670 per year in Grand Junction, CO. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,870.