Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Billings
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,870 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,900 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Billings earn between $54,490 and $73,460.
- $37K10th
- $54K25th
- $60KMedian
- $73K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $62,930 | $5,244 | $30.25 |
| Median | $60,200 | $5,017 | $28.94 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $54,490 | $4,541 | $26.20 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $73,460 | $6,122 | $35.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Billings vs. Montana and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Billings earn about the same as the Montana average ($61,580) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $62,930 | $60,200 | $36,870 | $76,900 | n/a |
| Montana | $61,580 | $57,470 | $38,200 | $80,180 | 720 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Billings
On the average salary of $62,930, a single filer in Billings takes home about $50,543 a year, or $4,212 a month and $1,944 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Billings a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Billings area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.5), so the average $62,930 buys what about $67,286 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Billings ($49,060). A typical home costs $410,666, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Montana cities
Billings ranks 2nd of 4 Montana metro areas for this job; Bozeman pays the most ($68,590).
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Billings: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Billings?
$30.26 an hour on average, and $28.94 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Billings?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,870 a year and the 25th percentile is $54,490, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Billings?
About $50,543 a year ($4,212 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $62,930.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Billings than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Billings, MT (13740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
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