Hospitality2% remote-eligible+3.8% YoY growth

Executive Chef Salary
by City (2026)

Direct kitchen operations, create menus, and lead culinary teams in restaurants and hotels. National median: $68K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$68K

Top 10% earn

$128K

Entry level

$52K

Salary growth

+3.8%/yr

Executive Chef salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$70K	$92K	$124K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$69K	$90K	$121K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$67K	$88K	$119K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$67K	$87K	$118K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$67K	$87K	$118K	185	11%
Los Angeles, CA	$65K	$85K	$115K	163	9.3%
Oakland, CA	$65K	$85K	$115K	185	9.3%
Bellevue, WA	$65K	$85K	$115K	175	None ✓
Honolulu, HI	$65K	$85K	$115K	192	11%
Irvine, CA	$64K	$84K	$114K	172	9.3%
Washington, DC	$63K	$83K	$112K	152	8.5%
Yonkers, NY	$63K	$82K	$111K	165	6.85%
Kirkland, WA	$62K	$82K	$110K	162	None ✓
Bethesda, MD	$63K	$82K	$111K	165	5.75%
Stamford, CT	$62K	$81K	$109K	158	6.99%
San Diego, CA	$61K	$80K	$109K	148	9.3%
Arlington, VA	$61K	$80K	$109K	148	5.75%
Jersey City, NJ	$61K	$80K	$109K	162	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$61K	$80K	$108K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$60K	$79K	$106K	150	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$60K	$78K	$106K	155	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$60K	$78K	$106K	148	9.3%
Miami, FL	$60K	$78K	$106K	123	None ✓
Seattle, WA	$60K	$78K	$106K	150	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$60K	$78K	$106K	118	2.5%
Boston, MA	$60K	$78K	$106K	162	5%
Las Vegas, NV	$60K	$78K	$106K	102	None ✓
Rockville, MD	$60K	$78K	$106K	148	5.75%
Newark, NJ	$60K	$78K	$106K	155	10.75%
Alexandria, VA	$59K	$77K	$105K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$59K	$77K	$105K	145	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$58K	$76K	$103K	128	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$58K	$76K	$103K	140	10.75%
Austin, TX	$57K	$75K	$101K	110	None ✓
Chula Vista, CA	$58K	$75K	$102K	138	9.3%
Portland, OR	$57K	$75K	$101K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$58K	$75K	$102K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$58K	$75K	$102K	138	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$56K	$73K	$99K	118	None ✓
Denver, CO	$56K	$73K	$99K	118	4.55%
Nashville, TN	$56K	$73K	$99K	102	None ✓
Plano, TX	$55K	$71K	$97K	105	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$55K	$71K	$97K	100	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$55K	$71K	$97K	107	4.95%
Tacoma, WA	$55K	$71K	$97K	128	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$55K	$71K	$97K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$55K	$71K	$97K	110	3.07%
Reno, NV	$55K	$71K	$97K	108	None ✓
New Orleans, LA	$55K	$71K	$97K	92	6%
Baltimore, MD	$55K	$71K	$97K	115	5.75%
New Haven, CT	$55K	$71K	$97K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$54K	$71K	$96K	120	None ✓
Anchorage, AK	$55K	$71K	$97K	128	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$54K	$70K	$95K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$54K	$70K	$95K	118	9.3%
Hialeah, FL	$53K	$70K	$94K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$53K	$70K	$94K	115	None ✓
Naperville, IL	$54K	$70K	$95K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$54K	$70K	$95K	118	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$53K	$70K	$94K	115	4.55%
Lowell, MA	$54K	$70K	$95K	118	5%
Ann Arbor, MI	$53K	$70K	$94K	115	4.25%
Gresham, OR	$54K	$70K	$95K	118	9.9%
Frederick, MD	$53K	$70K	$94K	115	5.75%
Bridgeport, CT	$54K	$70K	$95K	118	6.99%
Portland, ME	$53K	$70K	$94K	115	7.15%
Manchester, NH	$54K	$70K	$95K	118	None ✓
Concord, NH	$53K	$70K	$94K	115	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$54K	$70K	$95K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$54K	$70K	$95K	118	5.99%
Warwick, RI	$53K	$70K	$94K	115	5.99%
Tampa, FL	$53K	$69K	$94K	102	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$53K	$69K	$93K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$53K	$69K	$93K	112	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$53K	$69K	$94K	99	5.75%
Cary, NC	$53K	$69K	$93K	112	4.75%
Minneapolis, MN	$53K	$69K	$94K	106	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$53K	$69K	$94K	105	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$53K	$69K	$94K	105	6.5%
Hartford, CT	$53K	$69K	$94K	118	6.99%
Irving, TX	$52K	$68K	$92K	97	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$52K	$68K	$92K	108	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$52K	$68K	$92K	105	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$52K	$68K	$92K	100	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$52K	$68K	$92K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$52K	$68K	$92K	108	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$52K	$68K	$92K	112	4.55%
Thornton, CO	$52K	$68K	$92K	108	4.55%
Charlotte, NC	$52K	$68K	$92K	100	4.75%
Raleigh, NC	$52K	$68K	$92K	102	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$52K	$68K	$92K	104	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$52K	$68K	$93K	110	9.9%
Boise, ID	$52K	$68K	$92K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$52K	$68K	$92K	108	6.6%
McKinney, TX	$51K	$67K	$90K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$51K	$67K	$91K	105	9.3%
Chandler, AZ	$51K	$67K	$90K	105	2.5%
Springfield, MA	$51K	$67K	$91K	105	5%
Durham, NC	$51K	$67K	$90K	100	4.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$51K	$67K	$90K	98	5.75%
Salem, OR	$51K	$67K	$91K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$51K	$67K	$91K	105	None ✓
Provo, UT	$51K	$67K	$90K	100	4.85%
Meridian, ID	$51K	$67K	$91K	105	5.8%
Denton, TX	$50K	$66K	$89K	100	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$51K	$66K	$90K	102	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$50K	$66K	$89K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$50K	$66K	$89K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$50K	$66K	$89K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$50K	$66K	$89K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$50K	$66K	$89K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$50K	$66K	$89K	100	5.7%
Missoula, MT	$51K	$66K	$90K	102	6.75%
Dover, DE	$50K	$66K	$89K	100	6.6%
Dallas, TX	$50K	$65K	$88K	96	None ✓
Garland, TX	$50K	$65K	$88K	91	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$49K	$65K	$87K	95	9.3%
Albany, NY	$50K	$65K	$88K	98	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$49K	$65K	$87K	93	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$50K	$65K	$88K	98	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$49K	$65K	$87K	95	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$50K	$65K	$88K	98	2.5%
Glendale, AZ	$49K	$65K	$87K	95	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$49K	$65K	$87K	102	4.55%
Norfolk, VA	$49K	$65K	$87K	95	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$50K	$65K	$88K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$50K	$65K	$88K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$49K	$65K	$87K	95	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$49K	$65K	$87K	90	3.99%
Allentown, PA	$49K	$65K	$87K	95	3.07%
Madison, WI	$49K	$65K	$87K	102	5.3%
North Las Vegas, NV	$50K	$65K	$88K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$50K	$65K	$88K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$50K	$65K	$88K	98	4.85%
North Charleston, SC	$49K	$65K	$87K	95	6.5%
Nampa, ID	$50K	$65K	$88K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$50K	$65K	$88K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$50K	$65K	$88K	98	7.15%
Arlington, TX	$49K	$64K	$86K	94	None ✓
Midland, TX	$49K	$64K	$86K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$49K	$64K	$86K	92	5.75%
Kansas City, MO	$49K	$64K	$86K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$49K	$64K	$86K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$49K	$64K	$86K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$49K	$64K	$86K	92	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$48K	$63K	$86K	93	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$48K	$63K	$86K	90	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$48K	$63K	$85K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$48K	$63K	$85K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$48K	$63K	$85K	102	9.3%
Syracuse, NY	$48K	$63K	$85K	88	6.85%
Tallahassee, FL	$48K	$63K	$86K	90	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$48K	$63K	$85K	88	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$48K	$63K	$86K	90	4.95%
Savannah, GA	$48K	$63K	$85K	92	5.75%
Greensboro, NC	$48K	$63K	$85K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$48K	$63K	$85K	88	None ✓
Cincinnati, OH	$48K	$63K	$85K	88	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$48K	$63K	$86K	90	4.25%
Pittsburgh, PA	$48K	$63K	$85K	90	3.07%
Indianapolis, IN	$48K	$63K	$85K	88	3.23%
Green Bay, WI	$48K	$63K	$85K	88	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$48K	$63K	$86K	90	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$48K	$63K	$85K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$48K	$63K	$85K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$48K	$63K	$85K	88	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$48K	$63K	$86K	90	2.5%
Bismarck, ND	$48K	$63K	$85K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$48K	$63K	$85K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$48K	$63K	$85K	88	None ✓
Houston, TX	$47K	$62K	$84K	91	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$47K	$62K	$84K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$47K	$62K	$84K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$47K	$62K	$84K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$47K	$62K	$84K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$47K	$62K	$84K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$47K	$62K	$84K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$47K	$62K	$84K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$47K	$62K	$84K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$47K	$62K	$84K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$47K	$62K	$84K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$47K	$62K	$84K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$47K	$62K	$84K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$47K	$62K	$84K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$47K	$61K	$83K	82	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$47K	$61K	$82K	80	None ✓
Waco, TX	$47K	$61K	$83K	82	None ✓
Rochester, NY	$47K	$61K	$83K	90	6.85%
Rockford, IL	$47K	$61K	$82K	80	4.95%
Spokane, WA	$47K	$61K	$83K	95	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$47K	$61K	$83K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$47K	$61K	$83K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$47K	$61K	$83K	82	5.75%
Macon, GA	$47K	$61K	$82K	80	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$47K	$61K	$83K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$47K	$61K	$83K	82	None ✓
Akron, OH	$47K	$61K	$82K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$47K	$61K	$82K	80	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$47K	$61K	$83K	82	4.25%
Erie, PA	$47K	$61K	$82K	80	3.07%
St. Louis, MO	$47K	$61K	$83K	86	5.3%
Springfield, MO	$47K	$61K	$82K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$47K	$61K	$82K	80	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$47K	$61K	$83K	82	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$47K	$61K	$83K	90	5.3%
Louisville, KY	$47K	$61K	$83K	85	5%
Bowling Green, KY	$47K	$61K	$82K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$47K	$61K	$82K	80	5%
Mobile, AL	$47K	$61K	$83K	82	5%
Norman, OK	$47K	$61K	$82K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$47K	$61K	$83K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$47K	$61K	$83K	82	4.82%
Las Cruces, NM	$47K	$61K	$82K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$47K	$61K	$82K	80	5%
Brownsville, TX	$46K	$60K	$81K	75	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$46K	$60K	$82K	78	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$46K	$60K	$81K	88	6.85%
Tucson, AZ	$46K	$60K	$81K	90	2.5%
Memphis, TN	$46K	$60K	$81K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$46K	$60K	$81K	82	3.99%
Toledo, OH	$46K	$60K	$82K	78	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$46K	$60K	$81K	90	4.25%
Evansville, IN	$46K	$60K	$82K	78	3.23%
Huntsville, AL	$46K	$60K	$81K	88	5%
Baton Rouge, LA	$46K	$60K	$81K	88	6%
Shreveport, LA	$46K	$60K	$82K	78	6%
Des Moines, IA	$46K	$60K	$81K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$46K	$60K	$81K	88	5.84%
Albuquerque, NM	$46K	$60K	$81K	88	5.9%
Jackson, MS	$46K	$60K	$82K	78	5%
Fort Smith, AR	$46K	$60K	$81K	75	4.9%
Charleston, WV	$46K	$60K	$82K	78	6.5%
Huntington, WV	$46K	$60K	$81K	75	6.5%
San Antonio, TX	$45K	$59K	$80K	87	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$45K	$58K	$79K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$45K	$58K	$79K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$45K	$58K	$79K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$45K	$58K	$79K	82	4.75%
Corpus Christi, TX	$44K	$57K	$77K	84	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$44K	$57K	$77K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$44K	$57K	$77K	82	5.7%
El Paso, TX	$43K	$56K	$75K	82	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$43K	$56K	$75K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$42K	$54K	$74K	76	None ✓
Lubbock, TX	$41K	$53K	$72K	78	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $68K Executive Chef salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Executive Chef Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Executive Chef is $68,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $52,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $92,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Executive Chefs nationally earn $128,000+.

Education and requirements

Culinary degree or apprenticeship. This role is 2% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Executive Chef compensation is growing at 3.8% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Executive Chef salary FAQ

How much does a Executive Chef make?

The median Executive Chef salary in the US is $68,000 per year — about $33/hour. Most earn between $52,000 (25th percentile) and $92,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Executive Chef?

Entry-level Executive Chef positions typically start around $52,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Executive Chefs earn?

The top 10% of Executive Chefs earn $128,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Executive Chefs the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Executive Chef salary at $92K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Executive Chef salaries going up?

Yes — Executive Chef pay is growing about 3.8% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Executive Chef Salaryby City (2026)