Direct kitchen operations, create menus, and lead culinary teams in restaurants and hotels. Median salary in Washington: $83K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Washington, District of Columbia. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Executive Chefs in Washington earn approximately 22% higher than the US national median for this role — a $15,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Washington's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.
Adjusted for Washington's cost-of-living index (152), the median Executive Chef salary buys the equivalent of $54,605 in a US-average-cost city. That's $13,395 less purchasing power than the national median — the higher nominal salary doesn't fully offset local costs.
District of Columbia's 8.5% state income tax reduces take-home by roughly $7,055 per year at the median salary. A Executive Chef relocating to a no-tax state like Texas, Florida, or Tennessee would retain that amount without changing gross pay.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $83K by 2030.
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The median Executive Chef salary in Washington, DC is $83,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Washington–DC 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.
Entry-level Executive Chefs in Washington with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $63,000 and $83,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $83,000 to $112,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $112,000 to $156,000 or more.
Washington has a cost of living index of 152 compared to the US national average of 100. Washington's cost of living is above the US average, so the salary figures above reflect local market rates. District of Columbia has a 8.5% state income tax rate.
Culinary degree or apprenticeship. 2% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.