Executive Chefs Salary
Salary data across 60 metro areas in the US & CanadaUSD & CAD
Search Jobs on IndeedAvg Median Salary
$68,083
Highest Paying City
San Francisco
$97,000
Cities Tracked
60
What Do Executive Chefs Do?
Executive Chefs play an essential role in the food service industry, from preparing ingredients and cooking dishes to serving customers and maintaining clean, safe kitchen environments.
Most work in restaurant kitchens, cafeterias, or food service establishments. Hours are often long and irregular, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Kitchens can be hot, fast-paced, and physically demanding.
Key Skills for Executive Chefs
Time ManagementTeamworkCustomer ServiceMenu KnowledgePhysical StaminaKnife Skills
Education Requirements
High school diploma or equivalent; culinary degree for advanced roles
Many positions require little formal education beyond a high school diploma. Chefs and head cooks often benefit from culinary school training or apprenticeships. On-the-job training is common across all levels.
Career Outlook
Employment is expected to grow about as fast as average, driven by continued demand for dining out and food delivery services.
How to Increase Your Executive Chefs Salary
- 1.Complete culinary school or an apprenticeship for advanced chef roles
- 2.Earn food safety certifications (ServSafe, food handler's card)
- 3.Develop expertise in a culinary specialty (pastry, international cuisine, etc.)
- 4.Build management skills to advance to head chef or restaurant manager
- 5.Stay current with food trends and dietary preferences
Executive Chefs Salary by City
| City | Median | Average | Range (10th-90th) | Currency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $97,000 | $104,000 | $58,000 - $126,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Jose, CA | $97,000 | $106,000 | $58,000 - $126,000 | USD | Apply |
| Seattle, WA | $87,000 | $97,000 | $52,000 - $113,000 | USD | Apply |
| New York, NY | $85,000 | $87,000 | $51,000 - $110,000 | USD | Apply |
| Boston, MA | $85,000 | $91,000 | $51,000 - $110,000 | USD | Apply |
| Los Angeles, CA | $83,000 | $86,000 | $50,000 - $108,000 | USD | Apply |
| Washington DC, DC | $81,000 | $85,000 | $49,000 - $105,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Diego, CA | $77,000 | $79,000 | $46,000 - $100,000 | USD | Apply |
| Anchorage, AK | $77,000 | $86,000 | $46,000 - $100,000 | USD | Apply |
| Denver, CO | $76,000 | $84,000 | $46,000 - $99,000 | USD | Apply |
| Baltimore, MD | $76,000 | $83,000 | $46,000 - $99,000 | USD | Apply |
| Philadelphia, PA | $75,000 | $81,000 | $45,000 - $98,000 | USD | Apply |
| Chicago, IL | $74,000 | $81,000 | $44,000 - $96,000 | USD | Apply |
| Austin, TX | $74,000 | $78,000 | $44,000 - $96,000 | USD | Apply |
| Portland, OR | $74,000 | $77,000 | $44,000 - $96,000 | USD | Apply |
| Sacramento, CA | $74,000 | $79,000 | $44,000 - $96,000 | USD | Apply |
| Hartford, CT | $74,000 | $78,000 | $44,000 - $96,000 | USD | Apply |
| Honolulu, HI | $74,000 | $77,000 | $44,000 - $96,000 | USD | Apply |
| Minneapolis, MN | $72,000 | $75,000 | $43,000 - $94,000 | USD | Apply |
| Dallas, TX | $70,000 | $72,000 | $46,000 - $88,000 | USD | Apply |
| Houston, TX | $70,000 | $78,000 | $46,000 - $88,000 | USD | Apply |
| Atlanta, GA | $69,000 | $73,000 | $45,000 - $87,000 | USD | Apply |
| Detroit, MI | $69,000 | $76,000 | $45,000 - $87,000 | USD | Apply |
| Raleigh, NC | $69,000 | $70,000 | $45,000 - $87,000 | USD | Apply |
| Charlotte, NC | $67,000 | $72,000 | $44,000 - $85,000 | USD | Apply |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $67,000 | $69,000 | $44,000 - $85,000 | USD | Apply |
| Richmond, VA | $67,000 | $73,000 | $44,000 - $85,000 | USD | Apply |
| Phoenix, AZ | $66,000 | $67,000 | $43,000 - $83,000 | USD | Apply |
| Nashville, TN | $66,000 | $68,000 | $43,000 - $83,000 | USD | Apply |
| Las Vegas, NV | $66,000 | $72,000 | $43,000 - $83,000 | USD | Apply |
| Kansas City, MO | $66,000 | $72,000 | $43,000 - $83,000 | USD | Apply |
| Cincinnati, OH | $66,000 | $70,000 | $43,000 - $83,000 | USD | Apply |
| Milwaukee, WI | $66,000 | $69,000 | $43,000 - $83,000 | USD | Apply |
| Jacksonville, FL | $65,000 | $67,000 | $42,000 - $82,000 | USD | Apply |
| Miami, FL | $64,000 | $66,000 | $42,000 - $81,000 | USD | Apply |
| Columbus, OH | $64,000 | $66,000 | $42,000 - $81,000 | USD | Apply |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $64,000 | $71,000 | $42,000 - $81,000 | USD | Apply |
| St. Louis, MO | $64,000 | $69,000 | $42,000 - $81,000 | USD | Apply |
| Louisville, KY | $64,000 | $67,000 | $42,000 - $81,000 | USD | Apply |
| Toronto, ON | $64,000 | $69,000 | $42,000 - $81,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Indianapolis, IN | $63,000 | $65,000 | $41,000 - $80,000 | USD | Apply |
| Buffalo, NY | $63,000 | $68,000 | $41,000 - $80,000 | USD | Apply |
| Birmingham, AL | $63,000 | $70,000 | $41,000 - $80,000 | USD | Apply |
| Tampa, FL | $62,000 | $69,000 | $40,000 - $78,000 | USD | Apply |
| Orlando, FL | $62,000 | $65,000 | $40,000 - $78,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Antonio, TX | $62,000 | $67,000 | $40,000 - $78,000 | USD | Apply |
| Cleveland, OH | $62,000 | $67,000 | $40,000 - $78,000 | USD | Apply |
| New Orleans, LA | $62,000 | $65,000 | $40,000 - $78,000 | USD | Apply |
| Tucson, AZ | $62,000 | $68,000 | $40,000 - $78,000 | USD | Apply |
| Vancouver, BC | $62,000 | $66,000 | $40,000 - $78,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $61,000 | $65,000 | $40,000 - $77,000 | USD | Apply |
| Calgary, AB | $61,000 | $65,000 | $40,000 - $77,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Memphis, TN | $60,000 | $62,000 | $39,000 - $76,000 | USD | Apply |
| Ottawa, ON | $59,000 | $61,000 | $38,000 - $74,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Edmonton, AB | $56,000 | $60,000 | $36,000 - $71,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Montreal, QC | $55,000 | $57,000 | $36,000 - $69,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Hamilton, ON | $54,000 | $56,000 | $35,000 - $68,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Winnipeg, MB | $51,000 | $52,000 | $33,000 - $64,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Halifax, NS | $51,000 | $57,000 | $33,000 - $64,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Quebec City, QC | $49,000 | $51,000 | $32,000 - $62,000 | CAD | Apply |