Chefs and Head Cooks salary in New Hampshire
Chefs and Head Cooks in New Hampshire earn a median of $63,400 a year ($30.48 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,170 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,990 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $62,470. New Hampshire ranks 20th of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. 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 $66,530, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in New Hampshire
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,220 | $19.34 |
| 25th percentile | $52,510 | $25.25 |
| Median | $63,400 | $30.48 |
| 75th percentile | $76,300 | $36.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,990 | $46.15 |
| Average (mean) | $66,530 | $31.99 |
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 | $5,283.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,641.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,438.46 |
| Weekly | $1,219.23 |
| Hourly | $30.48 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $63,400 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 cities in New Hampshire
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $72,470 | 4,430 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $63,260 | 340 |
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 |
Related jobs in New Hampshire
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $49,710 | $23.90 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,590 | $15.19 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $38,430 | $18.48 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $40,200 | $19.33 |
| Bartender | $28,800 | $13.85 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,780 | $17.68 |
| Dishwasher | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,330 | $15.54 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $33,920 | $16.31 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,710 | $17.65 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $45,370 | $21.81 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,290 | $12.64 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $38,590 | $18.55 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $38,210 | $18.37 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in New Hampshire
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 New Hampshire?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in New Hampshire is $63,400 a year, or $30.48 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in New Hampshire?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in New Hampshire earn at least $95,990 a year. The top 25% earn $76,300 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in New Hampshire?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,220 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $52,510 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in New Hampshire?
About 1,170 chefs and head cooks are employed in New Hampshire, not counting the self-employed.