Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012

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)
97,370 2.0 % $22.39 $46,570 0.8 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $11.80 $15.08 $20.42 $27.64 $35.64
Annual Wage (2) $24,530 $31,360 $42,480 $57,480 $74,120

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)
Restaurants and Other Eating Places 52,620 0.59 $21.08 $43,840
Traveler Accommodation 12,200 0.70 $25.57 $53,180
Special Food Services 11,310 1.91 $22.45 $46,690
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries 6,190 0.57 $25.24 $52,500
Grocery Stores 1,520 0.06 $18.55 $38,580

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 11,310 1.91 $22.45 $46,690
Traveler Accommodation 12,200 0.70 $25.57 $53,180
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water 90 0.68 $27.70 $57,610
Restaurants and Other Eating Places 52,620 0.59 $21.08 $43,840
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries 6,190 0.57 $25.24 $52,500

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Beverage Manufacturing 70 0.04 $31.98 $66,520
Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation 60 0.15 $31.93 $66,420
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 1,490 0.07 $31.51 $65,550
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (8) (8) $31.05 $64,580
Amusement Parks and Arcades 130 0.07 $30.01 $62,420

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 10,800 0.75 1.01 $24.03 $49,990
New York 7,060 0.83 1.11 $28.72 $59,730
Florida 5,560 0.76 1.02 $23.71 $49,320
Texas 4,980 0.47 0.63 $21.81 $45,360
Pennsylvania 4,680 0.84 1.12 $20.16 $41,940




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)
Nevada 3,120 2.77 3.71 $25.12 $52,260
District of Columbia 1,730 2.65 3.55 $26.34 $54,790
Hawaii 1,380 2.35 3.14 $26.47 $55,050
Vermont 500 1.68 2.25 $20.36 $42,350
New Hampshire 860 1.41 1.88 $21.13 $43,960




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 7,060 0.83 1.11 $28.72 $59,730
New Jersey 2,880 0.76 1.02 $28.20 $58,670
Connecticut 2,100 1.29 1.73 $27.54 $57,280
Hawaii 1,380 2.35 3.14 $26.47 $55,050
District of Columbia 1,730 2.65 3.55 $26.34 $54,790





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 4,590 0.89 1.19 $31.98 $66,520
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 3,050 1.30 1.74 $24.84 $51,670
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 2,880 0.79 1.06 $21.58 $44,890
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 2,620 0.68 0.91 $22.85 $47,520
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV 2,580 3.15 4.22 $25.92 $53,920
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 1,770 1.03 1.38 $27.94 $58,110
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 1,540 0.68 0.91 $20.98 $43,640
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 1,500 0.82 1.10 $24.98 $51,960
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division 1,410 1.00 1.33 $22.41 $46,620
Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ 1,380 0.80 1.06 $25.83 $53,720




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)
Ocean City, NJ 180 4.90 6.55 $22.55 $46,910
Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC 410 3.74 5.00 $15.55 $32,350
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV 2,580 3.15 4.22 $25.92 $53,920
Barnstable Town, MA 260 2.71 3.63 $22.60 $47,010
Naples-Marco Island, FL 310 2.68 3.59 $25.62 $53,280
Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville, SC 770 2.63 3.52 $17.77 $36,960
Olympia, WA 240 2.54 3.40 $17.38 $36,150
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ 320 2.34 3.13 $27.96 $58,170
Ames, IA 90 2.32 3.11 $19.01 $39,550
Honolulu, HI 940 2.17 2.91 $24.35 $50,660