What are the main factors that influence a Lead Chef's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

What industry pays the highest salary for Lead Chef?

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

How does experience change A Lead Chef's salary?

A Lead Chef's salary grows with experience: starting around $85,195 for beginners, reaching about $86,564 at mid-level, and approach $89,639 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Lead Chef?

Lead Chef salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Lead Chef roles are District of Columbia $94,641, California $94,282, Massachusetts $93,026. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Lead Chef roles make?

Salaries for Lead Chef level roles vary by specialization: Development Chef: $92,100; Head Chef: $87,300; Executive Chef: $87,208; Chef Consultant: $76,893; Pastry Chef: $69,623.

Lead Chef Salary in Delaware

How much does a Lead Chef make in Delaware?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Chef in Delaware is $86,564 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $104,165
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $76,713 to $95,777
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $67,744

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Lead Chef Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$95,777	$7,981	$1,842	$46
Average	$86,564	$7,214	$1,665	$42
25th Percentile	$76,713	$6,393	$1,475	$37

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Key Factors That Influence Lead Chef Salaries

A Lead 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 Lead Chef Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lead 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): $85,195
Early Career (1-2 years): $85,606
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $86,564
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $87,658
Expert (over 8 years): $89,639

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Lead Chef	$85,195
Intermediate Level Lead Chef	$85,606
Senior Level Lead Chef	$86,564
Specialist Level Lead Chef	$87,658
Expert Level Lead Chef	$89,639

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What Am I Worth?

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

District of Columbia: $94,641.
California: $94,282.
Massachusetts: $93,026.

District of Columbia $94,641 California $94,282 Massachusetts $93,026 Washington $92,684 New Jersey $92,650 Alaska $92,530 Connecticut $91,350 New York $90,872

Hawaii $89,342 Rhode Island $88,624 Maryland $88,136 Minnesota $87,470 Colorado $87,213 Illinois $87,128 Oregon $86,803 Delaware $86,564

New Hampshire $86,413 Virginia $86,076 Pennsylvania $85,093 Nevada $84,598 North Dakota $84,435 Michigan $84,179 Wisconsin $84,085 Vermont $83,897

Texas $83,375 Maine $83,341 Arizona $83,290 Ohio $83,230 Georgia $82,444 Indiana $82,050 Wyoming $81,973 Utah $81,854

Iowa $81,802 Kansas $81,392 Louisiana $81,272 North Carolina $81,230 Missouri $81,213 Florida $80,879 Montana $80,700 Nebraska $80,529

Kentucky $80,435 South Carolina $80,093 Tennessee $79,879 Idaho $79,794 New Mexico $79,170 Oklahoma $79,033 Alabama $78,529 South Dakota $77,682

Arkansas $77,221 West Virginia $76,973 Mississippi $76,229

Top Paying Cities for Lead 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:

Lincoln: $86,174
Little Creek: $86,805
Magnolia: $86,680

Lincoln, DE $86,174 Little Creek, DE $86,805 Magnolia, DE $86,680 Milford, DE $86,393 Marydel, DE $86,535 Millsboro, DE $85,812 Millville, DE $85,945 Milton, DE $86,093

Nassau, DE $86,156 Ocean View, DE $85,930 Rehoboth Beach, DE $86,095 Seaford, DE $86,144 Selbyville, DE $85,787 Smyrna, DE $86,864 Viola, DE $86,464 Woodside, DE $86,697

Bear, DE $86,497 Newark, DE $86,464 Claymont, DE $86,641 Delaware City, DE $86,551 Hockessin, DE $86,457 Kirkwood, DE $86,535 Middletown, DE $86,568 Montchanin, DE $86,476

New Castle, DE $86,489 Odessa, DE $86,611 Port Penn, DE $86,669 Rockland, DE $86,485 Saint Georges, DE $86,540 Townsend, DE $86,674 Winterthur, DE $86,495 Lewes, DE $86,127

Wilmington, DE $86,461 Dover, DE $86,805 Dover Afb, DE $86,347 Bethany Beach, DE $85,840 Bethel, DE $85,928 Bridgeville, DE $86,131 Camden Wyoming, DE $86,560 Cheswold, DE $86,776

Clayton, DE $86,779 Dagsboro, DE $85,780 Delmar, DE $85,642 Ellendale, DE $85,902 Felton, DE $86,386 Fenwick Island, DE $85,799 Frankford, DE $85,649 Frederica, DE $86,471

Georgetown, DE $85,747 Greenwood, DE $86,145 Harbeson, DE $85,839 Harrington, DE $86,276 Hartly, DE $86,545 Houston, DE $86,153 Kenton, DE $86,783 Laurel, DE $85,696

Yorklyn, DE $86,482

Lead Chef Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Lead 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, Lead Chef positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Lead Chef as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Lead Chef

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology	$108,204	$52.0	25%
Internet	$103,876	$50.0	20%
Pharmaceuticals	$103,876	$50.0	20%
Energy & Utilities	$102,145	$49.0	18%
Software & Networking	$99,548	$48.0	15%

Lead Chef Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Lead 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 July 01, 2026

$76,713

Average $86,564/year

$95,777

$6,393

Average $7,214/month

$7,981

$1,475

Average $1,665/week

$1,842

$37

Average $42/hour

$46

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$95,777	$7,981	$1,842	$46
Average	$86,564	$7,214	$1,665	$42
25th Percentile	$76,713	$6,393	$1,475	$37

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