Chefs and Head Cooks salary
in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Middle 50%
- $61,860–$81,630
- vs U.S. median
- +29%
- Metro rank
- #4 of 160
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro earn a median of $80,330 a year, based on BLS estimates for 3,740 jobs (May 2025). That is 29% above the U.S. median of $62,470 and 6% above the WA statewide median of $76,010. It ranks #4 of 160 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE3,740 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
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Chefs and Head Cooks pay in other WA metros
1 metros · BLS
| Metro | Median |
|---|---|
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $71,540 |
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RELATED JOBS IN SEATTLE
Questions
What is the average Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Seattle?
The BLS median is $80,330 a year (May 2025). Half of the 3,740 jobs pay between $61,860 and $81,630. The 10th percentile is $50,810 and the 90th is $99,570.
Is Seattle a high-paying metro for Chefs and Head Cooks?
That is 29% above the U.S. median of $62,470 and 6% above the WA statewide median of $76,010. It ranks #4 of 160 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make an hour in Seattle?
About $38.62 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $80,330 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $29.74–$39.25 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.