Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Lincoln
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,660 a year or less, while the top 10% make $114,940 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Lincoln earn between $45,760 and $82,870.
- $32K10th
- $46K25th
- $60KMedian
- $83K75th
- $115K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $67,330 | $5,611 | $32.37 |
| Median | $59,680 | $4,973 | $28.69 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,760 | $3,813 | $22.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $82,870 | $6,906 | $39.84 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Lincoln vs. Nebraska and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Lincoln earn about the same as the Nebraska average ($66,990) and about the same as 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $67,330 | $59,680 | $31,660 | $114,940 | 140 |
| Nebraska | $66,990 | $60,510 | $39,650 | $99,990 | 540 |
| 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 Lincoln
On the average salary of $67,330, a single filer in Lincoln takes home about $54,013 a year, or $4,501 a month and $2,077 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 Lincoln a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lincoln area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.6), so the average $67,330 buys what about $73,520 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Lincoln ($49,800). A typical home costs $304,242, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Nebraska cities
Lincoln ranks 1st of 2 Nebraska metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Lincoln$67,330
- Omaha$66,820
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 Lincoln: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Lincoln?
$32.37 an hour on average, and $28.69 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Lincoln?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,660 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,760, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Lincoln?
About $54,013 a year ($4,501 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $67,330.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Lincoln than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Lincoln, NE (30700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.1%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.61, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.61).
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