Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,070 a year or less, while the top 10% make $102,800 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Rochester earn between $52,520 and $82,110.
- $48K10th
- $53K25th
- $66KMedian
- $82K75th
- $103K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $72,420 | $6,035 | $34.82 |
| Median | $66,080 | $5,507 | $31.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $52,520 | $4,377 | $25.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $82,110 | $6,842 | $39.48 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Rochester vs. New York and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Rochester earn 3% less than the New York average ($74,840) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $72,420 | $66,080 | $48,070 | $102,800 | 690 |
| New York | $74,840 | $70,670 | $46,260 | $120,370 | 17,430 |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $72,420, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $56,399 a year, or $4,700 a month and $2,169 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.0), so the average $72,420 buys what about $74,633 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($51,210). A typical home costs $285,034, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other New York cities
Rochester ranks 6th of 13 New York metro areas for this job; Albany pays the most ($79,500).
- Albany$79,500
- Kingston$77,740
- Buffalo$75,600
- Kiryas Joel$74,890
- New York$74,840
- Rochester$72,420
- Glens Falls$71,280
- Syracuse$70,520
- Ithaca$68,230
- Elmira$65,960
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Rochester: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Rochester?
$34.82 an hour on average, and $31.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,070 a year and the 25th percentile is $52,520, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Rochester?
About $56,399 a year ($4,700 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $72,420. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Rochester 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 Rochester, NY (40380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.1%.
- 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 (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.08, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.