Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median of $80,330 a year ($38.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,740 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,570 for the top 10%. That is 29% higher than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 6% higher than the Washington statewide median of $76,010. There are 1.8 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $76,820, close to the median.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,810 | $24.43 |
| 25th percentile | $61,860 | $29.74 |
| Median | $80,330 | $38.62 |
| 75th percentile | $81,630 | $39.24 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,570 | $47.87 |
| Average (mean) | $76,820 | $36.93 |
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 | $6,694.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,347.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,089.62 |
| Weekly | $1,544.81 |
| Hourly | $38.62 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $80,330 salary, see how much house you can afford in Washington 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $74,940 | 140 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $73,750 | 100 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $73,690 | 80 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $72,270 | 140 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $71,540 | 240 |
| Bellingham, WA | $70,410 | 140 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $68,120 | 40 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $65,690 | 1,580 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $63,080 | 40 |
| Yakima, WA | $62,920 | 80 |
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 Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $61,610 | $29.62 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $39,150 | $18.82 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $57,280 | $27.54 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $47,730 | $22.95 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $43,830 | $21.07 |
| Bartender | $58,180 | $27.97 |
| Dishwasher | $42,750 | $20.55 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $38,430 | $18.48 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $51,530 | $24.77 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $44,030 | $21.17 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $40,640 | $19.54 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $45,120 | $21.69 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $50,870 | $24.46 |
| Cooks, All Other | $53,910 | $25.92 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $80,330 a year, or $38.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,570 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn at least $99,570 a year. The top 25% earn $81,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,810 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $61,860 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
About 3,740 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.