Chef salary in United States

The average salary for a Chef is $20.61 per hour in the United States. This figure is based on 9.6k salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months, last updated on August 16, 2026.

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Chef salaries typically range between a low of $12.25 and a high of $34.69 per hour, depending on experience, location, and the hiring company.

Some of the highest-paying cities for Chef include New York, NY at $31.73 per hour, Chicago, IL at $27.45 per hour, and Savannah, GA at $24.74 per hour.

Based on recent job postings on Indeed, some of the top-paying companies for Chef include Wellness Clinic ($260,000 per year) and Elite Amenity Management ($234,000 per year).

Compensation can vary based on the specific niche and level of responsibility within the field. Here is how the average Chef salary compares to related positions:

• Assistant Chef: Average $18.96 per hour
• Entry Level Chef: Average $23.71 per hour
• Head Chef: Average $66,528 per year
• Junior Chef: Average $22.13 per hour
• Sous Chef: Average $64,896 per year