Culinary Lead Salary in the United States

How much does a Culinary Lead make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Culinary Lead in the United States is $50,643 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $24.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $60,855
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $45,727 to $55,989
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $41,252
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View as table View as graph 25% $45,727 10% $41,252 90% $60,855 75% $55,989 $50,643 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Culinary Lead Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $55,989 $4,666 $1,077 $27
Average $50,643 $4,220 $974 $24
25th Percentile $45,727 $3,811 $879 $22
Check out Culinary Lead Job Openings in the United States
Culinary Lead

CSC Generation - Columbus, OH

Culinary Supervisor

Topgolf - Columbus, OH

Culinary Supervisor Nationwide Arena

Delaware North - Columbus, OH

Executive Culinary Kitchen Manager

Gecko Hospitality - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Culinary Lead Salaries

A Culinary Lead'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 Do Culinary Lead 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 Culinary Leads. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $56,072.
  • California: $55,859.
  • Massachusetts: $55,115.

Top Paying Cities for Culinary Leads

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: $63,876
  • San Francisco: $63,176
  • Oakland: $61,845

What Skills Can Increase a Culinary Lead's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 6.45% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Foodservice (Mentioned in 3.29% Job Postings): The foodservice or catering industry includes the businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home. It includes restaurants, school and hospital cafeterias, catering operations, and many other formats.
  • Purchasing (Mentioned in 1.49% Job Postings): Purchasing refers to a business or organization attempting to acquire goods or services to accomplish its goals. Although there are several organizations that attempt to set standards in the purchasing process, processes can vary greatly between organizations. Typically the word “purchasing” is not used interchangeably with the word “procurement”, since procurement typically includes expediting, supplier quality, and transportation and logistics (T&L) in addition to purchasing.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 6.45%
Foodservice 3.29%
Purchasing 1.49%
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 Culinary Lead's salary.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • HACCP: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Preventive Maintenance: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Commitment
$61,278
21%
HACCP
$60,771
20%
Preventive Maintenance
$55,707
10%
Collaboration
$54,188
7%
Cost Control
$54,188
7%
Innovation
$54,188
7%
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Culinary Lead Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Culinary Lead roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 70% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 35% above the average. In contrast, Culinary Lead positions in Telecom or Financial Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Culinary Lead as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Culinary Lead

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$68,368$33.035%
Energy & Utilities$65,836$32.030%
Internet$63,304$30.025%
Aerospace & Defense$60,771$29.020%
Pharmaceuticals$60,771$29.020%

How Education impacts a Culinary Lead's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Culinary Leads enter the field with a Bachelor'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 Culinary Lead with a Bachelor's Degree is between $49,533 and $53,608).

Culinary Lead Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Culinary Lead
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.1%
High School 23.5%
Associates 53.8%
Bachelors 19.9%
Masters 0.6%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Culinary Lead Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Culinary Lead'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

Salary Trends for Culinary Lead

Salaries for a Culinary Lead can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $44,050 in 2023 to around $42,989 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Culinary Lead salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Culinary Lead Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$44,050
2024
$43,787
2025
$42,989
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $44,050
2024 $43,787
2025 $42,989
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Culinary Lead

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

Here are companies hiring for Culinary Lead and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Culinary Lead Job

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

United States
  • Whole Foods Market

    Columbus, OH

    Whole Foods Market | Columbus, OH

    Whole Foods Market - - Responsibilities: Assists with production for all Prepared Foods venues. Ensures all prepared foods are properly labeled, dates, ini... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Gecko Hospitality

    Columbus, OH

    Gecko Hospitality | Columbus, OH

    Gecko Hospitality - - Responsibilities: Lead and develop the kitchen team to uphold company culinary standards and culture. Oversee food and labor cost man... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Whole Foods Market

    Columbus, OH

    Whole Foods Market | Columbus, OH

    Whole Foods Market - - Responsibilities: Cuts, prepares, and serves a variety of hot and cold foods, including meats, cheeses, sandwiches, burritos, wraps,... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Whole Foods

    Columbus, OH

    Whole Foods | Columbus, OH

    Prepared Foods Team Member. Provides support as a member of the Prepared Foods team to include preparation, counter service, sanitation, and stocking of pr... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Check Off Your List

    Columbus, OH

    Check Off Your List | Columbus, OH

    Executive Assistant. Check Off Your List (COYL) is hiring a remote part-time Executive Assistant to support our exponential growth. COYL provides highly tr... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Veo

    Columbus, OH

    Veo | Columbus, OH

    E-Scooter Delivery Driver. Columbus, Ohio, United States. At Veo, our mission is to end car dependency by making clean transportation accessible to all. A ... more

    5 Days Ago

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FAQ about Culinary Lead

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Culinary Lead?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Culinary Lead roles, with salaries approximately 35% 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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