Cafe Chef Salary in the United States

How much does a Cafe Chef make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Cafe Chef in the United States is $84,042 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $40.

However, a Cafe Chef's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $101,131
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $74,482 to $92,987
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $65,778
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View as table View as graph 25% $74,482 10% $65,778 90% $101,131 75% $92,987 $84,042 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Cafe Chef Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $92,987 $7,749 $1,788 $45
Average $84,042 $7,004 $1,616 $40
25th Percentile $74,482 $6,207 $1,432 $36
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Key Factors That Influence Cafe Chef Salaries

A Cafe Chef's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Cafe Chef Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Cafe Chef's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $82,714
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $83,112
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $84,042
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $85,104
  • Expert (over 8 years): $87,027
Levels Salary
Entry Level Cafe Chef$82,714
Intermediate Level Cafe Chef$83,112
Senior Level Cafe Chef$84,042
Specialist Level Cafe Chef$85,104
Expert Level Cafe Chef$87,027
$82,714 0 yr
$83,112 < 2 yrs
$84,042 2-4 yrs
$85,104 5-8 yrs
$87,027 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Cafe Chef Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Cafe Cheves. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $93,051.
  • California: $92,698.
  • Massachusetts: $91,463.

Top Paying Cities for Cafe Cheves

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $106,002
  • San Francisco: $104,842
  • Oakland: $102,632

What Skills Can Increase a Cafe Chef's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 6.66% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Cost Control (Mentioned in 4.08% Job Postings): Managing and analyzing financial data in determining and reducing business expenses to increase revenue and profitability.
  • Merchandising (Mentioned in 1.32% Job Postings): In the broadest sense, merchandising is any practice which contributes to the sale of products to a retail consumer. At a retail in-store level, merchandising refers to the variety of products available for sale and the display of those products in such a way that it stimulates interest and entices customers to make a purchase. In the profession of merchandising you are either employed by the store in which you work, or by an independent distributor. As a professional merchandiser, in a retail setting, you will not only know your products(I.e. coffee, juice, soda, etc.) but you will gauge other “vendors” like products as you tend to your job. Working with the store and other merchandisers, shelf space is often given or taken as need be in some locations(for some young merchandisers this is known as “war”) In retail commerce, visual display merchandising means merchandise sales using product design, selection, packaging, pricing, and display that stimulates consumers to spend more. This includes disciplines and discounting, physical presentation of products and displays, and the decisions about which products should be presented to which customers at what time.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 6.66%
Cost Control 4.08%
Merchandising 1.32%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Cafe Chef's salary.
  • Equipment Operation: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Managed Services: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Equipment Operation
$93,287
11%
Commitment
$91,606
9%
Managed Services
$89,925
7%
Written Communication
$89,925
7%
Initiative
$89,085
6%
Foodservice
$89,085
6%
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Cafe Chef Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Cafe Chef roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Cafe Chef positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Cafe Chef as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Cafe Chef

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$105,052$51.025%
Internet$100,850$48.020%
Pharmaceuticals$100,850$48.020%
Energy & Utilities$99,170$48.018%
Software & Networking$96,648$46.015%

How Education impacts a Cafe Chef's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Cafe Cheves enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Cafe Chef with a Associate's Degree is between $92,424 and $99,704).

Cafe Chef Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Cafe Chef
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.4%
High School 24.8%
Associates 45.3%
Bachelors 23.3%
Masters 4.2%
Doctorate 1.0%
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Cafe Chef Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Cafe Chef's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Cafe Chef

Salaries for a Cafe Chef can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $83,018 in 2023 to around $83,060 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Cafe Chef salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Cafe Chef Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$83,018
2024
$83,400
2025
$83,060
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $83,018
2024 $83,400
2025 $83,060
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Cafe Chef

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Cafe Chef

Here are companies hiring for Cafe Chef and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Cafe Chef Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Cafe Chef job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    13 Days Ago

  • XPO

    Columbus, OH

    CDL

    XPO | Columbus, OH

    XPO is Hiring Driver Teams. XPO Teams. As an XPO Team, you’ll run dedicated routes between XPO facilities in. new sleeper. trucks equipped with microwaves ... more

    13 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    14 Days Ago

  • Summit Recruiting Group

    Columbus, OH

    Summit Recruiting Group | Columbus, OH

    NP/PA Dermatology job opening in Columbus, OHPosition Details. Full-time, permanent opening. Experience required. Well-Established Practice. Seeking a NP/P... more

    15 Days Ago

  • Family Dollar

    Columbus, OH

    Family Dollar | Columbus, OH

    Customer Service Associate. We're seeking a Customer Service Associate to join our team and deliver a great shopping experience for every customer. Duties ... more

    16 Days Ago

  • GO Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    GO Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Locums - A well respected group has a Trauma Surgery APP opportunity available in Columbus, Ohio. Certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. 1/1/... more

    16 Days Ago

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FAQ about Cafe Chef

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Cafe Chef?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Cafe Chef roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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