Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area earn a median of $62,740 a year ($30.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,800 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 11% lower than the New York statewide median of $70,670. There are 1.1 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $64,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,200 | $16.92 |
| 25th percentile | $46,670 | $22.44 |
| Median | $62,740 | $30.17 |
| 75th percentile | $79,430 | $38.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,800 | $47.98 |
| Average (mean) | $64,240 | $30.89 |
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 | $5,228.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,614.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,413.08 |
| Weekly | $1,206.54 |
| Hourly | $30.17 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $62,740 salary, see how much house you can afford in New York 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $84,430 | 470 |
| Kingston, NY | $74,710 | 140 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $74,290 | 640 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $72,340 | 360 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $71,780 | 20,010 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $67,590 | 80 |
| Rochester, NY | $66,080 | 690 |
| Syracuse, NY | $64,170 | 240 |
| Ithaca, NY | $64,010 | 80 |
| Elmira, NY | $63,410 | 40 |
| Binghamton, NY | $63,010 | 110 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $61,090 | 220 |
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 York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,610 | $19.04 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $32,580 | $15.66 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $38,590 | $18.55 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,830 | $17.71 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,740 | $16.70 |
| Bartender | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,390 | $15.57 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,620 | $16.64 |
| Dishwasher | $33,330 | $16.02 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $32,830 | $15.79 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,830 | $18.19 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
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 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area is $62,740 a year, or $30.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area earn at least $99,800 a year. The top 25% earn $79,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,200 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $46,670 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?
About 40 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.