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SOC 35-1011·Food Preparation & ServingOpportunity job
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)
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