Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Omaha, NE-IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Omaha, NE-IA

Median annual salary $63,990 +4.9% vs national
Median hourly $30.76
10th percentile $40,480
90th percentile $114,260
Employed locally 360
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Omaha, NE-IA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Omaha, NE-IA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $40,480
    25th
    $50,160
    50th (median)
    $63,990
    75th
    $75,330
    90th
    $114,260

    Omaha economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $83,023 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 77% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 23% 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
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $74,640
    Vineland, NJ $72,740
    Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL $69,690
    New Jersey $69,660
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $66,550
    Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area $66,080

    Related occupations in Omaha, NE-IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,770
    Waiters and Waitresses $35,090
    Food Preparation Workers $33,250
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,530
    Bartenders $30,420
    Cooks, Restaurant $37,560

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Omaha, NE-IA is $30.76, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $48.07 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Omaha, NE-IA is 4.9% 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 Omaha?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $40,480 per year in Omaha, NE-IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $50,160.