Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Las Cruces
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,700 a year or less, while the top 10% make $94,420 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Las Cruces earn between $47,550 and $84,370.
- $32K10th
- $48K25th
- $61KMedian
- $84K75th
- $94K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,430 | $5,369 | $30.98 |
| Median | $61,030 | $5,086 | $29.34 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,550 | $3,962 | $22.86 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $84,370 | $7,031 | $40.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Las Cruces vs. New Mexico and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Las Cruces earn 4% less than the New Mexico average ($67,080) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces | $64,430 | $61,030 | $31,700 | $94,420 | 40 |
| New Mexico | $67,080 | $62,250 | $43,370 | $100,010 | 770 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Las Cruces
On the average salary of $64,430, a single filer in Las Cruces takes home about $52,087 a year, or $4,341 a month and $2,003 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Las Cruces a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Las Cruces area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.2), so the average $64,430 buys what about $71,421 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Las Cruces ($42,070). A typical home costs $288,339, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other New Mexico cities
Las Cruces ranks 3rd of 3 New Mexico metro areas for this job; Santa Fe pays the most ($72,590).
- Santa Fe$72,590
- Albuquerque$64,930
- Las Cruces$64,430
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Las Cruces: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Las Cruces?
$30.98 an hour on average, and $29.34 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Las Cruces?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,700 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,550, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Las Cruces?
About $52,087 a year ($4,341 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,430.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Las Cruces than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Las Cruces, NM (29740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.38, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.38).
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