Certified Executive Chef Salary in the United States

How much does a Certified Executive Chef make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Certified Executive Chef in the United States is $74,940 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $87,918
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $67,720 to $81,733
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $61,146

Key Factors That Influence Certified Executive Chef Salaries

A Certified Executive 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Certified Executive Chef Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Certified Executive 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): $76,444
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $97,523
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $126,593
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $141,213
  • Expert (over 8 years): $165,823
Levels Salary
Certified... Level Certified Executive Chef$76,444
Revenue C... Level Certified Executive Chef$97,523
Revenue C... Level Certified Executive Chef$126,593
Revenue C... Level Certified Executive Chef$141,213
Revenue C... Level Certified Executive Chef$165,823

Top Paying Cities for Certified Executive 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: $94,522
  • San Francisco: $93,487
  • Oakland: $91,517

What Skills Can Increase a Certified Executive Chef's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 4.47% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Oncology (Mentioned in 2.9% Job Postings): Designing, constructing, and repairing dental prosthetics and restorative and orthodontic devices to help patients correct dental conditions.
  • Managed Care (Mentioned in 1.75% Job Postings): Managed Care is a health care delivery system organized to manage cost, utilization, and quality. Also known as managed healthcare.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 4.47%
Oncology 2.9%
Managed Care 1.75%

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 Certified Executive Chef's salary.

  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Presentation $79,437
6%
Project Management $78,687
5%
Insight $78,687
5%

Certified Executive Chef Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Certified Executive Chef roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Construction and Healthcare sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Certified Executive Chef positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Certified Executive Chef as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Certified Executive Chef

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Construction$89,928$43.020%
Healthcare$86,181$41.015%
Aerospace & Defense$83,933$40.012%
Energy & Utilities$80,935$39.08%
Media$80,186$39.07%

Certified Executive Chef Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Certified Executive 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 September 01, 2026
$67,720
Average $74,940/year
$81,733
$5,643
Average $6,245/month
$6,811
$1,302
Average $1,441/week
$1,572
$33
Average $36/hour
$39
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $81,733 $6,811 $1,572 $39
Average $74,940 $6,245 $1,441 $36
25th Percentile $67,720 $5,643 $1,302 $33

Most common benefits for Certified Executive Chef

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Certified Executive Chef

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

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FAQ about Certified Executive Chef

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Certified Executive Chef?

The Construction industry offers the highest average compensation for Certified Executive Chef roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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.)

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