Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Burlington-South Burlington, VT
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Burlington-South Burlington, VT metro area earn a median of $69,920 a year ($33.61 an hour), based on BLS data for 200 workers.
Pay ranges from $53,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,040 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 7% higher than the Vermont statewide median of $65,440. There are 1.7 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $70,400, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Burlington-South Burlington, VT
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,560 | $25.75 |
| 25th percentile | $59,090 | $28.41 |
| Median | $69,920 | $33.61 |
| 75th percentile | $77,360 | $37.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,040 | $39.92 |
| Average (mean) | $70,400 | $33.85 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,826.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,913.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,689.23 |
| Weekly | $1,344.62 |
| Hourly | $33.61 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $69,920 salary, see how much house you can afford in Vermont at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Vermont statewide figures.
Related jobs in Burlington-South Burlington, VT
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $51,440 | $24.73 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $37,190 | $17.88 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $61,620 | $29.63 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $45,390 | $21.82 |
| Bartender | $49,070 | $23.59 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $47,390 | $22.78 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $37,040 | $17.81 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,120 | $14.96 |
| Dishwasher | $37,170 | $17.87 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $38,690 | $18.60 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $33,540 | $16.13 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $41,090 | $19.76 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,890 | $18.70 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $32,420 | $15.59 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Burlington-South Burlington, VT
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Burlington-South Burlington, VT?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Burlington-South Burlington, VT metro area is $69,920 a year, or $33.61 an hour. Pay ranges from $53,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Burlington-South Burlington, VT?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Burlington-South Burlington, VT metro area earn at least $83,040 a year. The top 25% earn $77,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Burlington-South Burlington, VT?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $53,560 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $59,090 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Burlington-South Burlington, VT?
About 200 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Burlington-South Burlington, VT metro area, not counting the self-employed.