Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Kahului-Wailuku, HI
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro area earn a median of $84,990 a year ($40.86 an hour), based on BLS data for 250 workers.
Pay ranges from $55,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $129,410 for the top 10%. That is 36% higher than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 10% higher than the Hawaii statewide median of $77,360. There are 3.4 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $91,380, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Kahului-Wailuku, HI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,400 | $26.64 |
| 25th percentile | $76,170 | $36.62 |
| Median | $84,990 | $40.86 |
| 75th percentile | $103,890 | $49.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $129,410 | $62.22 |
| Average (mean) | $91,380 | $43.93 |
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 | $7,082.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,541.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,268.85 |
| Weekly | $1,634.42 |
| Hourly | $40.86 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $84,990 salary, see how much house you can afford in Hawaii at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $74,380 | 740 |
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 Hawaii statewide figures.
Related jobs in Kahului-Wailuku, HI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $56,600 | $27.21 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $82,550 | $39.69 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $49,560 | $23.83 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $61,230 | $29.44 |
| Bartender | $86,280 | $41.48 |
| Dishwasher | $45,930 | $22.08 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $46,680 | $22.44 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $45,240 | $21.75 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $55,400 | $26.64 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $48,140 | $23.14 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $49,400 | $23.75 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Kahului-Wailuku, HI
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 Kahului-Wailuku, HI?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro area is $84,990 a year, or $40.86 an hour. Pay ranges from $55,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $129,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Kahului-Wailuku, HI?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro area earn at least $129,410 a year. The top 25% earn $103,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Kahului-Wailuku, HI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $55,400 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $76,170 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Kahului-Wailuku, HI?
About 250 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro area, not counting the self-employed.