Executive Chef/Manager Salary in the United States

How much does an Executive Chef/Manager make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Executive Chef/Manager in the United States is $86,747 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $105,182
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $77,947 to $96,396
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $69,935
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View as table View as graph 25% $77,947 10% $69,935 90% $105,182 75% $96,396 $86,747 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Executive Chef/Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $96,396 $8,033 $1,854 $46
Average $86,747 $7,229 $1,668 $42
25th Percentile $77,947 $6,496 $1,499 $37
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Key Factors That Influence Executive Chef/Manager Salaries

An Executive Chef/Manager'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 Executive Chef/Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Executive Chef/Manager'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): $82,721
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $83,119
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $84,048
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $85,109
  • Expert (over 8 years): $87,030
Levels Salary
Entry Level Executive Chef/Manager$82,721
Intermediate Level Executive Chef/Manager$83,119
Senior Level Executive Chef/Manager$84,048
Specialist Level Executive Chef/Manager$85,109
Expert Level Executive Chef/Manager$87,030
$82,721 0 yr
$83,119 < 2 yrs
$84,048 2-4 yrs
$85,109 5-8 yrs
$87,030 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Executive Chef/Managers

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: $109,414
  • San Francisco: $108,338
  • Oakland: $105,935

What Skills Can Increase an Executive Chef/Manager'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 an Executive Chef/Manager'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
$96,289
11%
Commitment
$94,554
9%
Managed Services
$92,819
7%
Written Communication
$92,819
7%
Initiative
$91,952
6%
Foodservice
$91,952
6%
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How Education impacts an Executive Chef/Manager's Salary?

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

Executive Chef/Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Executive Chef/Manager
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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Executive Chef/Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Executive Chef/Manager'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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Executive Chef/Manager

Salaries for an Executive Chef/Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $83,043 in 2023 to around $83,086 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Executive Chef/Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Executive Chef/Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$83,043
2024
$83,425
2025
$83,086
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $83,043
2024 $83,425
2025 $83,086
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Executive Chef/Manager

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

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

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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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