HospitalityUpdated Q1 2026

Executive Chef Salary
in Evansville, IN

Direct kitchen operations, create menus, and lead culinary teams in restaurants and hotels. Median salary in Evansville: $60K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.

Median salary
$60K
per year
Take-home: $40K

Salary range in Evansville

Entry level (25th)$46,000
Median (50th)$60,000
Senior (75th)$82,000
Top earner (90th)$114,000
Data freshness

Figures represent annual base salary in Evansville, Indiana. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →

Help build this dataset. Add your own Executive Chef salary so other workers in Evansville have better numbers to work with.
Submit yours →

What the numbers say for Evansville

Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.

12% discount vs national median

Executive Chefs in Evansville earn approximately 12% lower than the US national median for this role — a $8,000 discount on annual base salary. Evansville's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 78 (US avg = 100).

Cost-of-living adjusted picture

Adjusted for Evansville's cost-of-living index (78), the median Executive Chef salary buys the equivalent of $76,923 in a US-average-cost city. That's $8,923 more purchasing power than the national median — a meaningful real-wage advantage.

Rent eats 28% of take-home

Average 1-bedroom rent in Evansville ($950/mo) consumes approximately 28% of an after-tax median Executive Chef salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($82K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.

Key facts for Evansville

Median salary
$60K
annual
Take-home pay
$40K
after fed/state tax
COL index
78
100 = US avg
State income tax
3.23%
effective rate
Avg 1BR rent
$950
per month
YoY growth
+3.8%
salary trend

Salary forecast: Evansville Executive Chef to 2030

Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $60K by 2030.

Salary trend & forecast — Evansville

Historical (2019–2025) + projected to 2030 based on BLS growth rates

HistoricalProjected
Executive Chef salary trend 2019–2030PROJECTED →$50K$55K$59K$64K$68K201920212023202520272029
2026
$61K
projected
2027
$63K
projected
2028
$65K
projected
2029
$66K
projected
2030
$68K
projected

Projections based on BLS Employment Projections 2022–2032 CAGR and WEF Jobs Report 2025. Not financial advice.

YearProjected median salaryvs today
2027 projected$60,000+$0
2028 projected$60,000+$0
2029 projected$60,000+$0
2030 projected$60,000+$0

Projections use compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from BLS occupational outlook data. Actual salaries may vary.

Full salary breakdown & negotiation guide

Unlock the full salary report + negotiation email template

Enter your email for free access. We'll send salary market updates — unsubscribe anytime.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Executive Chef Salary in Evansville, Indiana: Complete Guide (2026)

The median Executive Chef salary in Evansville, IN is $60,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Evansville–IN metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.

Salary range for Executive Chef in Evansville

Entry-level Executive Chefs in Evansville with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $46,000 and $60,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $60,000 to $82,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $82,000 to $114,000 or more.

Cost of living in Evansville for Executive Chefs

Evansville has a cost of living index of 78 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 22% further in Evansville than the national average. Indiana has a 3.23% state income tax rate.

Education requirements for Executive Chef

Culinary degree or apprenticeship. 2% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.

Executive Chef salary in nearby cities

CityMedian salaryCOL index
Evansville (current)$60K78
Indianapolis$63K88
Fort Wayne$61K80
South Bend$61K82