Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Omaha
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,720 a year or less, while the top 10% make $99,990 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Omaha earn between $45,910 and $80,000.
- $41K10th
- $46K25th
- $62KMedian
- $80K75th
- $100K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $66,820 | $5,568 | $32.12 |
| Median | $62,240 | $5,187 | $29.92 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,910 | $3,826 | $22.07 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38.46 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Omaha vs. Nebraska and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Omaha 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 -0% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $66,820 | $62,240 | $40,720 | $99,990 | 330 |
| 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 Omaha
On the average salary of $66,820, a single filer in Omaha takes home about $53,677 a year, or $4,473 a month and $2,065 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Omaha, NE-IA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IA | $53,911 | $4,493 |
| Working in NE | $53,677 | $4,473 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Omaha a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Omaha area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.9), so the average $66,820 buys what about $72,701 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Omaha ($49,660). A typical home costs $310,337, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Nebraska cities
Omaha ranks 2nd of 2 Nebraska metro areas for this job; Lincoln pays the most ($67,330).
- 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 Omaha: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Omaha?
$32.13 an hour on average, and $29.92 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Omaha?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,720 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,910, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Omaha?
About $53,677 a year ($4,473 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $66,820.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Omaha 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 Omaha, NE-IA (36540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.6%.
- 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 0.51, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.51).
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