Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Manchester-Nashua, NH
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Manchester-Nashua, NH metro area earn a median of $63,260 a year ($30.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 340 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,040 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is about the same as the New Hampshire statewide median of $63,400. 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 $65,020, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Manchester-Nashua, NH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,440 | $17.52 |
| 25th percentile | $48,740 | $23.43 |
| Median | $63,260 | $30.41 |
| 75th percentile | $75,320 | $36.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,040 | $46.65 |
| Average (mean) | $65,020 | $31.26 |
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 | $5,271.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,635.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,433.08 |
| Weekly | $1,216.54 |
| Hourly | $30.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $63,260 salary, see how much house you can afford in New Hampshire 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $72,470 | 4,430 |
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 New Hampshire statewide figures.
Related jobs in Manchester-Nashua, NH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $49,260 | $23.68 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,120 | $14.96 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $38,430 | $18.48 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,960 | $18.73 |
| Bartender | $29,050 | $13.97 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,330 | $17.47 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,840 | $14.83 |
| Dishwasher | $35,290 | $16.97 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,890 | $17.73 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,670 | $21.48 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $24,960 | $12.00 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $38,550 | $18.54 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $43,330 | $20.83 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Manchester-Nashua, NH
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 Manchester-Nashua, NH?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Manchester-Nashua, NH metro area is $63,260 a year, or $30.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Manchester-Nashua, NH?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Manchester-Nashua, NH metro area earn at least $97,040 a year. The top 25% earn $75,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Manchester-Nashua, NH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,440 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $48,740 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Manchester-Nashua, NH?
About 340 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Manchester-Nashua, NH metro area, not counting the self-employed.