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SOC 35-1011·Food Preparation & ServingGood pay · growing
Chefs and Head Cooks
Median wage
$66,129
10-yr outlook
+21.0%by 2032
Openings / year
2,594
Workers in NY
15,420
How pay grows with experience
Chefs and Head Cooks — typical pay by experience
Annual wages statewide: starting out, typical (median), and experienced.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Starting out (entry) | $46,127 |
| Median (typical) | $66,129 |
| Experienced | $85,237 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (NYSDOL / U.S. BLS via data.ny.gov)
Where it pays most across New York
Median pay for this occupation by region. Select a region for its full profile.
Chefs and Head Cooks — median pay by region
Regional median annual wage, highest first.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| New York City | $68,442 |
| Long Island | $68,298 |
| Western New York | $67,422 |
| Hudson Valley | $65,280 |
| North Country | $63,593 |
| Capital Region | $62,820 |
| Finger Lakes | $62,557 |
| Mohawk Valley | $62,135 |
| Central New York | $61,591 |
| Southern Tier | $61,222 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (NYSDOL / U.S. BLS via data.ny.gov)
Ways in
Lower-paying roles in the same field
Jobs in the same field (Food Preparation & Serving) that pay less than this one — often earlier-career roles or a way in.
- Bartenders$62,476 median (−$3,653) · +20.0% by 2032
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$48,004 median (−$18,125) · +20.1% by 2032
- Waiters and Waitresses$47,783 median (−$18,346) · +12.2% by 2032
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$46,442 median (−$19,687) · +22.1% by 2032
- Cooks, All Other$43,414 median (−$22,715)
- Cooks, Restaurant$41,024 median (−$25,105) · +20.5% by 2032
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