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

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

How does experience change A Culinary Chef's salary?

A Culinary Chef's salary grows with experience: a Cook I (0-1 years)earns $34,877, a Cook II (1-3 years)earns $38,832, a Cook III (3-5 years)earns $43,735, a Culinary Chef (5+ years)earns $57,433,

What are the highest paying states for a Culinary Chef?

Culinary Chef salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Culinary Chef roles are District of Columbia $63,293, California $63,053, Massachusetts $62,213. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Culinary Chef roles make?

Salaries for Culinary Chef level roles vary by specialization: Culinary Director: $117,349; Senior Development Chef: $111,500; Culinary Manager: $98,594; Development Chef: $92,100; Executive Chef: $87,198.

Culinary Chef Salary in Delaware

How much does a Culinary Chef make in Delaware?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Culinary Chef in Delaware is $57,891 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $69,795
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $52,290 to $64,122
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $47,190

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Culinary Chef Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$64,122	$5,343	$1,233	$31
Average	$57,891	$4,824	$1,113	$28
25th Percentile	$52,290	$4,357	$1,006	$25

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Key Factors That Influence Culinary Chef Salaries

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

District of Columbia: $63,293.
California: $63,053.
Massachusetts: $62,213.

District of Columbia $63,293 California $63,053 Massachusetts $62,213 Washington $61,984 New Jersey $61,961 Alaska $61,881 Connecticut $61,092 New York $60,772

Hawaii $59,749 Rhode Island $59,269 Maryland $58,943 Minnesota $58,497 Colorado $58,326 Illinois $58,268 Oregon $58,051 Delaware $57,891

New Hampshire $57,791 Virginia $57,565 Pennsylvania $56,908 Nevada $56,576 North Dakota $56,468 Michigan $56,296 Wisconsin $56,233 Vermont $56,108

Texas $55,759 Maine $55,736 Arizona $55,702 Ohio $55,662 Georgia $55,136 Indiana $54,873 Wyoming $54,821 Utah $54,741

Iowa $54,707 Kansas $54,433 Louisiana $54,353 North Carolina $54,324 Missouri $54,313 Florida $54,090 Montana $53,970 Nebraska $53,855

Kentucky $53,792 South Carolina $53,564 Tennessee $53,421 Idaho $53,364 New Mexico $52,946 Oklahoma $52,855 Alabama $52,518 South Dakota $51,952

Arkansas $51,643 West Virginia $51,477 Mississippi $50,980

Top Paying Cities for Culinary 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: $59,915
Little Creek: $59,360
Magnolia: $59,606

Lincoln, DE $59,915 Little Creek, DE $59,360 Magnolia, DE $59,606 Milford, DE $59,915 Marydel, DE $59,137 Millsboro, DE $59,915 Millville, DE $60,315 Milton, DE $59,915

Nassau, DE $59,915 Ocean View, DE $60,315 Rehoboth Beach, DE $60,315 Seaford, DE $59,286 Selbyville, DE $60,315 Smyrna, DE $59,069 Viola, DE $59,606 Woodside, DE $59,435

Bear, DE $58,634 Newark, DE $58,657 Claymont, DE $58,703 Delaware City, DE $58,657 Hockessin, DE $58,703 Kirkwood, DE $58,657 Middletown, DE $58,949 Montchanin, DE $58,703

New Castle, DE $58,703 Odessa, DE $59,029 Port Penn, DE $58,497 Rockland, DE $58,703 Saint Georges, DE $58,657 Townsend, DE $58,943 Winterthur, DE $58,703 Lewes, DE $59,915

Wilmington, DE $58,703 Dover, DE $59,332 Dover Afb, DE $59,469 Bethany Beach, DE $60,315 Bethel, DE $59,286 Bridgeville, DE $59,915 Camden Wyoming, DE $59,395 Cheswold, DE $59,195

Clayton, DE $59,046 Dagsboro, DE $60,315 Delmar, DE $59,286 Ellendale, DE $59,915 Felton, DE $59,915 Fenwick Island, DE $60,315 Frankford, DE $60,315 Frederica, DE $59,915

Georgetown, DE $59,915 Greenwood, DE $59,915 Harbeson, DE $59,915 Harrington, DE $59,915 Hartly, DE $59,017 Houston, DE $59,915 Kenton, DE $59,046 Laurel, DE $59,286

Yorklyn, DE $58,703

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

Understanding how a Culinary 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

$52,290

Average $57,891/year

$64,122

$4,357

Average $4,824/month

$5,343

$1,006

Average $1,113/week

$1,233

$25

Average $28/hour

$31

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$64,122	$5,343	$1,233	$31
Average	$57,891	$4,824	$1,113	$28
25th Percentile	$52,290	$4,357	$1,006	$25

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