What are the main factors that influence a Certified 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 Certified Chef?

The MFG Durable industry offers the highest average compensation for Certified Chef roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

How does experience change A Certified Chef's salary?

A Certified Chef's salary grows with experience: starting around $54,284 for beginners, reaching about $56,562 at mid-level, and approach $59,258 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Certified Chef?

Certified Chef salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Certified Chef roles are District of Columbia $60,819, California $60,588, Massachusetts $59,781. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Certified Chef roles make?

Salaries for Certified Chef level roles vary by specialization: Development Chef: $92,100; Head Chef: $87,300; Executive Chef: $87,208; Certified Executive Chef: $74,945; Pastry Chef: $69,623.

Certified Chef Salary in Delaware

How much does a Certified Chef make in Delaware?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Certified Chef in Delaware is $55,628 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $68,330
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $49,936 to $62,277
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $44,753

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Certified Chef Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$62,277	$5,190	$1,198	$30
Average	$55,628	$4,636	$1,070	$27
25th Percentile	$49,936	$4,161	$960	$24

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Key Factors That Influence Certified Chef Salaries

A Certified 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 Chef Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Certified 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): $54,284
Early Career (1-2 years): $54,679
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $56,562
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $58,719
Expert (over 8 years): $59,258

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Certified Chef	$54,284
Intermediate Level Certified Chef	$54,679
Senior Level Certified Chef	$56,562
Specialist Level Certified Chef	$58,719
Expert Level Certified Chef	$59,258

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What Am I Worth?

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

District of Columbia: $60,819.
California: $60,588.
Massachusetts: $59,781.

District of Columbia $60,819 California $60,588 Massachusetts $59,781 Washington $59,561 New Jersey $59,539 Alaska $59,462 Connecticut $58,704 New York $58,396

Hawaii $57,413 Rhode Island $56,952 Maryland $56,639 Minnesota $56,210 Colorado $56,045 Illinois $55,990 Oregon $55,782 Delaware $55,628

New Hampshire $55,531 Virginia $55,315 Pennsylvania $54,683 Nevada $54,365 North Dakota $54,260 Michigan $54,095 Wisconsin $54,035 Vermont $53,914

Texas $53,579 Maine $53,557 Arizona $53,524 Ohio $53,486 Georgia $52,980 Indiana $52,728 Wyoming $52,678 Utah $52,601

Iowa $52,568 Kansas $52,305 Louisiana $52,228 North Carolina $52,200 Missouri $52,189 Florida $51,975 Montana $51,860 Nebraska $51,750

Kentucky $51,689 South Carolina $51,470 Tennessee $51,332 Idaho $51,277 New Mexico $50,876 Oklahoma $50,789 Alabama $50,464 South Dakota $49,921

Arkansas $49,624 West Virginia $49,465 Mississippi $48,987

Top Paying Cities for Certified 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: $55,377
Little Creek: $55,783
Magnolia: $55,703

Lincoln, DE $55,377 Little Creek, DE $55,783 Magnolia, DE $55,703 Milford, DE $55,518 Marydel, DE $55,609 Millsboro, DE $55,145 Millville, DE $55,230 Milton, DE $55,326

Nassau, DE $55,366 Ocean View, DE $55,221 Rehoboth Beach, DE $55,327 Seaford, DE $55,358 Selbyville, DE $55,129 Smyrna, DE $55,821 Viola, DE $55,564 Woodside, DE $55,714

Bear, DE $55,585 Newark, DE $55,564 Claymont, DE $55,678 Delaware City, DE $55,620 Hockessin, DE $55,559 Kirkwood, DE $55,609 Middletown, DE $55,631 Montchanin, DE $55,572

New Castle, DE $55,580 Odessa, DE $55,658 Port Penn, DE $55,695 Rockland, DE $55,577 Saint Georges, DE $55,613 Townsend, DE $55,699 Winterthur, DE $55,584 Lewes, DE $55,347

Wilmington, DE $55,562 Dover, DE $55,783 Dover Afb, DE $55,489 Bethany Beach, DE $55,163 Bethel, DE $55,220 Bridgeville, DE $55,350 Camden Wyoming, DE $55,626 Cheswold, DE $55,765

Clayton, DE $55,766 Dagsboro, DE $55,124 Delmar, DE $55,036 Ellendale, DE $55,203 Felton, DE $55,514 Fenwick Island, DE $55,136 Frankford, DE $55,040 Frederica, DE $55,569

Georgetown, DE $55,103 Greenwood, DE $55,359 Harbeson, DE $55,162 Harrington, DE $55,443 Hartly, DE $55,616 Houston, DE $55,364 Kenton, DE $55,769 Laurel, DE $55,070

Yorklyn, DE $55,576

Certified Chef Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Certified Chef roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, MFG Durable, offers compensation 30% above the average. Conversely, Certified Chef positions in MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Certified Chef as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Certified Chef

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
MFG Durable	$72,316	$35.0	30%

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

Understanding how a Certified 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

$49,936

Average $55,628/year

$62,277

$4,161

Average $4,636/month

$5,190

$960

Average $1,070/week

$1,198

$24

Average $27/hour

$30

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$62,277	$5,190	$1,198	$30
Average	$55,628	$4,636	$1,070	$27
25th Percentile	$49,936	$4,161	$960	$24

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