Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Seattle, WA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Median annual salary $74,970 +22.9% vs national
Median hourly $36.04
10th percentile $51,580
90th percentile $100,350
Employed locally 2,680
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Seattle, WA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Seattle, WA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $51,580
    25th
    $57,470
    50th (median)
    $74,970
    75th
    $80,130
    90th
    $100,350

    Seattle economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $112,594 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 67% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 33% 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
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Hawaii $81,200
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $78,390
    Washington $69,800
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $69,610

    Related occupations in Seattle, WA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $38,310
    Waiters and Waitresses $48,760
    Cooks, Restaurant $46,180
    Food Preparation Workers $41,980
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $55,730
    Bartenders $49,490

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Seattle, WA is $36.04, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $47.87 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Seattle, WA is 22.9% 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 Seattle?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $51,580 per year in Seattle, WA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $57,470.