Kitchen Chef Salary in the United States

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

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Kitchen Chef in the United States is $86,276 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $41.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $103,820
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $76,449 to $95,459
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $67,502
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View as table View as graph 25% $76,449 10% $67,502 90% $103,820 75% $95,459 $86,276 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Kitchen Chef Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $95,459 $7,955 $1,836 $46
Average $86,276 $7,190 $1,659 $41
25th Percentile $76,449 $6,371 $1,470 $37
Check out Kitchen Chef Job Openings in the United States
Sous Chef

Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Sandusky, OH

High

Zero Doubt Club - Cleveland, OH

Chef De Cuisine Kitchen Manager

Envision Cinemas Blue Ash - Cincinnati, OH

Kitchen Teacher

Lotus Growth Learning LLC - Twinsburg, OH

Search More Kitchen Chef Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Kitchen Chef Salaries

A Kitchen 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 Kitchen Chef Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Kitchen 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): $84,911
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $85,320
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $86,276
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $87,367
  • Expert (over 8 years): $89,342
Levels Salary
Entry Level Kitchen Chef$84,911
Intermediate Level Kitchen Chef$85,320
Senior Level Kitchen Chef$86,276
Specialist Level Kitchen Chef$87,367
Expert Level Kitchen Chef$89,342
$84,911 0 yr
$85,320 < 2 yrs
$86,276 2-4 yrs
$87,367 5-8 yrs
$89,342 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Kitchen 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 Kitchen Cheves. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $95,524.
  • California: $95,162.
  • Massachusetts: $93,894.

Top Paying Cities for Kitchen 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: $108,819
  • San Francisco: $107,750
  • Oakland: $105,360

What Skills Can Increase a Kitchen 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 Kitchen 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
$95,766
11%
Commitment
$94,040
9%
Managed Services
$92,315
7%
Written Communication
$92,315
7%
Initiative
$91,452
6%
Foodservice
$91,452
6%
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How Education impacts a Kitchen Chef's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Kitchen 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 Kitchen Chef with a Associate's Degree is between $92,424 and $99,704).

Kitchen Chef Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Kitchen 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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Kitchen Chef Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Kitchen 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 April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Kitchen Chef

Salaries for a Kitchen Chef can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $85,240 in 2023 to around $85,283 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Kitchen Chef salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Kitchen Chef Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$85,240
2024
$85,632
2025
$85,283
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $85,240
2024 $85,632
2025 $85,283
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Kitchen Chef

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

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

Find Your Next Kitchen Chef Job

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

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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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