Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $104,060 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Philadelphia earn between $55,830 and $88,140.
- $43K10th
- $56K25th
- $66KMedian
- $88K75th
- $104K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $71,310 | $5,942 | $34.28 |
| Median | $65,680 | $5,473 | $31.58 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $55,830 | $4,652 | $26.84 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $88,140 | $7,345 | $42.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Philadelphia earn 5% more than the Pennsylvania average ($67,890) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $71,310 | $65,680 | $43,440 | $104,060 | 5,700 |
| Pennsylvania | $67,890 | $63,860 | $39,040 | $95,830 | 9,170 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $71,310, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $56,807 a year, or $4,734 a month and $2,185 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in PA | $56,807 | $4,734 |
| Working in NJ | $56,604 | $4,717 |
| Working in MD | $55,821 | $4,652 |
| Working in DE | $55,521 | $4,627 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $71,310 buys what about $69,534 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 5.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 1st of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Philadelphia$71,310
- Reading$70,150
- Pittsburgh$69,290
- Allentown$66,010
- Scranton$64,410
- York$62,800
- Lancaster$61,840
- Johnstown$61,810
- Harrisburg$61,760
- State College$60,150
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 Philadelphia: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Philadelphia?
$34.28 an hour on average, and $31.58 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $55,830, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $56,807 a year ($4,734 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $71,310. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.0%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.53, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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