Chefs and Head Cooks salary in South Dakota
Chefs and Head Cooks in South Dakota earn a median of $48,470 a year ($23.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 300 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,820 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $62,470. South Dakota ranks 47th of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 0.65 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.51). The average (mean) salary is $47,900, close to the median.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in South Dakota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,450 | $18.01 |
| 25th percentile | $39,650 | $19.06 |
| Median | $48,470 | $23.30 |
| 75th percentile | $51,870 | $24.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,820 | $27.80 |
| Average (mean) | $47,900 | $23.03 |
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 | $4,039.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,019.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,864.23 |
| Weekly | $932.12 |
| Hourly | $23.30 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $48,470 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Dakota at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in cities in South Dakota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $50,150 | 120 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $49,590 | 70 |
| Rapid City, SD | $48,350 | 60 |
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 South Dakota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $40,640 | $19.54 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,490 | $14.18 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,990 | $13.94 |
| Bartender | $29,400 | $14.14 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,430 | $14.63 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,920 | $14.39 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,730 | $17.66 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,380 | $15.57 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,220 | $17.42 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,950 | $14.88 |
| Dishwasher | $28,190 | $13.56 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,310 | $14.57 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,980 | $15.38 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in South Dakota
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 South Dakota?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in South Dakota is $48,470 a year, or $23.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in South Dakota?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in South Dakota earn at least $57,820 a year. The top 25% earn $51,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in South Dakota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,450 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $39,650 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in South Dakota?
About 300 chefs and head cooks are employed in South Dakota, not counting the self-employed.