Chef Salary in United States

Chef pay in United States: Washington DC leads, Houston trails

The United States national median for a chef is $67,600 a year. Among 9 metros with observed data, pay runs from about $45,400 in Houston to $110,000 in Washington DC (2.4×).

Chefs plan menus, prepare food, and lead kitchen teams. Common screening skills include Cooking, Menu design, Leadership, and Food safety.

A modeled national band runs about $43,300–$97,300 around that midpoint. Many top cash roles in the United States still run through employer sponsorship and specialty licensing. Employment outlook for the occupation is sketched at +5% over a decade — a national demand guess, not a hiring guarantee in every American city.

Washington DC sits +63% vs the national median; Houston sits -33%. Relocating inside United States for this title can move cash more than a small raise at the same desk. Open a city page for take-home and rent context — this national page is the map, not the offer.

United States shows about 2.9% CPI in 2024. A chef raise that trails inflation is a real-pay cut even if it still beats last year’s peers. This occupation is also covered in 39 other countries — useful for remote or relocation shortlists, after FX and local tax. Nearby skilled trades titles on this site include Electrician, Plumber, Carpenter, and Welder.