Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area earn a median of $70,210 a year ($33.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 480 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,910 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 5% lower than the New Jersey statewide median of $74,280. There are 2.0 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $70,640, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,890 | $16.78 |
| 25th percentile | $49,420 | $23.76 |
| Median | $70,210 | $33.75 |
| 75th percentile | $84,150 | $40.46 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,910 | $51.88 |
| Average (mean) | $70,640 | $33.96 |
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 | $5,850.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,925.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,700.38 |
| Weekly | $1,350.19 |
| Hourly | $33.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $70,210 salary, see how much house you can afford in New Jersey 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $75,740 | 900 |
| Vineland, NJ | $75,050 | 100 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $71,780 | 20,010 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $65,680 | 5,700 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $63,220 | 570 |
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 Jersey statewide figures.
Related jobs in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,850 | $22.52 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,720 | $16.69 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $38,070 | $18.30 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,950 | $17.28 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,400 | $18.46 |
| Bartender | $38,800 | $18.66 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $42,960 | $20.65 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,740 | $17.18 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,830 | $16.74 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $43,350 | $20.84 |
| Dishwasher | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,920 | $17.27 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area is $70,210 a year, or $33.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area earn at least $107,910 a year. The top 25% earn $84,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,890 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $49,420 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
About 480 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area, not counting the self-employed.