Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro area earn a median of $71,540 a year ($34.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 240 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,900 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 6% lower than the Washington statewide median of $76,010. There are 0.95 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $68,290, close to the median.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,210 | $23.66 |
| 25th percentile | $53,460 | $25.70 |
| Median | $71,540 | $34.39 |
| 75th percentile | $74,320 | $35.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,900 | $40.82 |
| Average (mean) | $68,290 | $32.83 |
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 | $5,961.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,980.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,751.54 |
| Weekly | $1,375.77 |
| Hourly | $34.39 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $71,540 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $80,330 | 3,740 |
| 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 |
| 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 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $51,770 | $24.89 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,780 | $17.20 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $48,560 | $23.35 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,230 | $21.26 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,360 | $17.48 |
| Bartender | $50,210 | $24.14 |
| Dishwasher | $36,330 | $17.47 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,190 | $17.40 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $45,330 | $21.79 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $35,730 | $17.18 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,710 | $17.17 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,030 | $16.84 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Spokane-Spokane Valley, 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 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro area is $71,540 a year, or $34.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,900 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro area earn at least $84,900 a year. The top 25% earn $74,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,210 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $53,460 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA?
About 240 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.