Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Salt Lake City, UT

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Salt Lake City-Murray, UT

Median annual salary $42,740 -29.9% vs national
Median hourly $20.55
10th percentile $27,110
90th percentile $80,010
Employed locally 980
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Salt Lake City, UT stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Salt Lake City, UT
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $27,110
    25th
    $27,930
    50th (median)
    $42,740
    75th
    $61,770
    90th
    $80,010

    Salt Lake City economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $95,045 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 45% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 55% 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
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    South Florida nonmetropolitan area $69,570
    Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area $68,110
    Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area $67,580
    Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area $67,280
    Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area $66,520

    Related occupations in Salt Lake City, UT

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,060
    Waiters and Waitresses $30,350
    Cooks, Restaurant $37,330
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,270
    Food Preparation Workers $32,090
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $38,850

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Salt Lake City?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Salt Lake City, UT is $20.55, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $38.18 or more per hour.

    Is Salt Lake City above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Salt Lake City, UT is 29.9% 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 Salt Lake City?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $27,110 per year in Salt Lake City, UT. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $27,930.