State comparison · 2025
Chefs and Head Cooks salary: District of Columbia vs South Dakota
Chefs and Head Cooks in District of Columbia earn a median of $76,420. In South Dakota, $48,470. After cost-of-living, the gap is 27.1% — not 57.7%.
Nominal pay gap
+57.7%
District of Columbia vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
+27.1%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
District of Columbia
Chefs and Head Cooks
- Median
- $76,420
- p25
- $63,550
- p75
- $81,360
- p10
- $56,570
- p90
- $104,660
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 109.9
South Dakota
Chefs and Head Cooks
- Median
- $48,470
- p25
- $39,650
- p75
- $51,870
- p10
- $37,450
- p90
- $57,820
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.6
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.