Chefs and Head Cooks in New York. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where New York chefs and head cooks fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $55,070 and $93,240, with a median of $70,670.
Chefs and Head Cooks in New York: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 18 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $66,165. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 4 | $44,720 |
| Level II — qualified | 6 | $58,531 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $72,301 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 4 | $123,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Chefs and Head Cooks in New York. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Perfect Union, LLC | Executive Pastry Chef | 2 | $121,000 |
| THE DINEX GROUP LLC | EXECUTIVE SOUS CHEF | 2 | $77,465 |
| Triomphe Restaurant Corp | Pastry Chef | 2 | $45,053 |
| GOOSEFEATHER LLC | Chef de Partie | 1 | $45,760 |
| HD 200 Park LLC | Sous Chef | 1 | $58,531 |
| HELU PAVLOVA LLC | Chef de Cuisine | 1 | $72,301 |
| KID A LLC | sous chef | 1 | $58,531 |
| Nutopian Embassy LLC | Sous Chef | 1 | $75,000 |
| Ramble On Partners LLC | Sous Chef | 1 | $70,000 |
| Rezdora LLC | Jr. Sous Chef | 1 | $62,400 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Executive Pastry Chef at A Perfect Union, LLC$121,000New YorkWage Level IVDecided Mar 4, 2026I-203-26057-665484
- Sous Chef at Ramble On Partners LLC$70,000BrooklynDecided Feb 27, 2026I-202-26052-656174
- Sous Chef at Triomphe Restaurant Corp$47,840New YorkWage Level IDecided Dec 24, 2025I-202-25351-491441
- Corporate Chef at Winklevoss Capital Management, LLC$160,000New YorkWage Level IVDecided Dec 23, 2025I-203-25350-485814
- Chef de Cuisine at HELU PAVLOVA LLC$72,301NEW YORKWage Level IIIDecided Sep 15, 2025I-203-25251-293479
- Pastry Chef at Triomphe Restaurant Corp$42,266New YorkWage Level IDecided Jun 20, 2025I-202-25163-086130
- SOUS CHEF at RIAM FOODS LLC$56,098BrooklynWage Level IIDecided Jun 16, 2025I-200-25160-071760
- SOUS CHEF at Riam Foods LLC$56,098BrooklynWage Level IIDecided Jun 3, 2025I-200-25147-020384
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Chefs and Head Cooks pay by experience level in New York
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in New York over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
High school diploma
Experience
5 years or more
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Food Production
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Production and Processing
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Administration and Management
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Coordination
Technical
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Problem Sensitivity
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Monitor sanitation practices to ensure that employees follow standards and regulations.
- 02
Check the quality of raw or cooked food products to ensure that standards are met.
- 03
Determine production schedules and staff requirements necessary to ensure timely delivery of services.
- 04
Check the quantity and quality of received products.
- 05
Supervise or coordinate activities of cooks or workers engaged in food preparation.
- 06
Analyze recipes to assign prices to menu items, based on food, labor, and overhead costs.
- 07
Determine how food should be presented and create decorative food displays.
- 08
Instruct cooks or other workers in the preparation, cooking, garnishing, or presentation of food.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+7.1%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in New York
Metro-level salary data for chefs and head cooks in major New York metropolitan areas.
- Buffalo$74,290
- New York City$71,780
Compare Chefs and Head Cooks pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare New York with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in New York?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in New York is $70,670.
- How does New York compare to the national median for Chefs and Head Cooks?
- The New York median is +11.6% versus the BLS national figure of $63,297.
- What is the salary range for Chefs and Head Cooks in New York?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $46,260 and the 90th-percentile at $120,370, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Chefs and Head Cooks a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 7.1% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Chefs and Head Cooks?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as High school diploma. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.