Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Rochester, NY
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Rochester, NY
Median annual salary
$60,740
-0.4% vs national
Median hourly
$29.20
10th percentile
$42,480
90th percentile
$93,600
Employed locally
660
National median
$60,990
Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power
Type a city below to see how Rochester, NY stacks up on salary and cost of living.
Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Rochester, NY
vs
Salary percentile breakdown
Rochester economic context
Unemployment rate
3.60%
2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
Median household income
$74,438
2023 • Census ACS
Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income
82%
Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 18% below the area median household income
Frequently asked questions
How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Rochester?
The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Rochester, NY is $29.20, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $49.42 or more per hour.
Is Rochester above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?
The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Rochester, NY is 0.4% 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 Rochester?
Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $42,480 per year in Rochester, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,300.