Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011

35-1011 Chefs and Head Cooks

Direct and may participate in the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. May plan and price menu items, order supplies, and keep records and accounts.

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
90,300 2.1 % $22.40 $46,600 1.0 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $11.91 $15.19 $20.36 $27.37 $35.61
Annual Wage (2) $24,770 $31,600 $42,350 $56,940 $74,060

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Full-Service Restaurants 44,120 0.97 $21.57 $44,870
Traveler Accommodation 11,480 0.68 $25.39 $52,800
Special Food Services 9,880 1.73 $22.17 $46,110
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries 6,020 0.57 $25.50 $53,050
Limited-Service Eating Places 4,880 0.12 $16.78 $34,910

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Special Food Services 9,880 1.73 $22.17 $46,110
Full-Service Restaurants 44,120 0.97 $21.57 $44,870
Traveler Accommodation 11,480 0.68 $25.39 $52,800
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water 80 0.62 $26.96 $56,080
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries 6,020 0.57 $25.50 $53,050

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation 50 0.15 $35.10 $73,010
Amusement Parks and Arcades 210 0.13 $32.49 $67,580
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 1,480 0.07 $31.45 $65,410
Other Personal Services 30 0.01 $29.91 $62,200
Other Food Manufacturing 130 0.08 $29.32 $60,990

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 10,280 0.73 1.04 $23.31 $48,490
Florida 5,690 0.79 1.13 $23.67 $49,230
New York 5,610 0.67 0.95 $32.67 $67,950
Texas 4,150 0.40 0.57 $22.52 $46,840
Pennsylvania 4,070 0.73 1.04 $20.67 $42,990




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 2,150 3.33 4.73 $20.98 $43,650
Nevada 2,750 2.47 3.51 $25.31 $52,640
Hawaii 1,320 2.28 3.25 $25.34 $52,700
Vermont 480 1.65 2.35 $20.53 $42,700
Connecticut 2,150 1.33 1.90 $24.60 $51,160




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York 5,610 0.67 0.95 $32.67 $67,950
New Jersey 2,470 0.65 0.93 $29.07 $60,460
Hawaii 1,320 2.28 3.25 $25.34 $52,700
Nevada 2,750 2.47 3.51 $25.31 $52,640
Massachusetts 3,400 1.08 1.53 $25.10 $52,200





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 3,630 0.72 1.02 $38.46 $80,000
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 3,340 1.45 2.06 $22.06 $45,890
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 2,790 0.73 1.04 $21.37 $44,450
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 2,720 0.76 1.08 $21.28 $44,270
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV 2,290 2.84 4.04 $26.12 $54,340
Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ 1,810 1.07 1.52 $23.07 $47,980
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 1,630 0.97 1.38 $27.06 $56,280
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 1,320 0.73 1.04 $24.08 $50,090
San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division 1,300 1.35 1.92 $26.56 $55,240
Baltimore-Towson, MD 1,280 1.02 1.45 $19.04 $39,590




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Naples-Marco Island, FL 320 2.84 4.04 $26.97 $56,090
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV 2,290 2.84 4.04 $26.12 $54,340
Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC 300 2.74 3.89 $16.85 $35,040
Barnstable Town, MA 220 2.38 3.38 $24.84 $51,660
Honolulu, HI 990 2.32 3.29 $23.90 $49,710
Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville, SC 630 2.20 3.12 $18.17 $37,790
Santa Fe, NM 130 2.17 3.09 $22.77 $47,360
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ 290 2.14 3.03 $29.26 $60,850
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT 740 1.81 2.58 $24.59 $51,140
Port St. Lucie, FL 210 1.77 2.51 $17.16 $35,690