Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Santa Fe
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,700 a year or less, while the top 10% make $106,130 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Santa Fe earn between $56,550 and $91,010.
- $47K10th
- $57K25th
- $72KMedian
- $91K75th
- $106K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $72,590 | $6,049 | $34.90 |
| Median | $72,020 | $6,002 | $34.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $56,550 | $4,712 | $27.19 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $91,010 | $7,584 | $43.75 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Santa Fe vs. New Mexico and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Santa Fe earn 8% more than the New Mexico average ($67,080) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe | $72,590 | $72,020 | $46,700 | $106,130 | 100 |
| New Mexico | $67,080 | $62,250 | $43,370 | $100,010 | 770 |
| 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 Santa Fe
On the average salary of $72,590, a single filer in Santa Fe takes home about $57,651 a year, or $4,804 a month and $2,217 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Santa Fe a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Fe area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.8), so the average $72,590 buys what about $73,496 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Fe ($48,710). A typical home costs $558,896, or 7.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other New Mexico cities
Santa Fe ranks 1st of 3 New Mexico metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Santa Fe$72,590
- Albuquerque$64,930
- Las Cruces$64,430
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 Santa Fe: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Santa Fe?
$34.90 an hour on average, and $34.62 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Santa Fe?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,700 a year and the 25th percentile is $56,550, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Santa Fe?
About $57,651 a year ($4,804 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $72,590.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Santa Fe than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more 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 Santa Fe, NM (42140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.1%.
- 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 1.32, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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