Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Ponce
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,850 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,510 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Ponce earn between $23,480 and $44,250.
- $23K10th
- $23K25th
- $31KMedian
- $44K75th
- $51K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,230 | $3,019 | $17.42 |
| Median | $30,800 | $2,567 | $14.81 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $23,480 | $1,957 | $11.29 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,250 | $3,688 | $21.27 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Ponce vs. Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Ponce earn 13% less than the Puerto Rico average ($41,480) and 46% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -51% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ponce | $36,230 | $30,800 | $22,850 | $50,510 | 50 |
| Puerto Rico | $41,480 | $30,800 | $23,730 | $68,580 | 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.
Is Ponce a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Ponce ($26,940). A typical home costs $103,100, or 2.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Puerto Rico cities
Ponce ranks 4th of 4 Puerto Rico metro areas for this job; San Juan pays the most ($43,240).
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 Ponce: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Ponce?
$17.42 an hour on average, and $14.81 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Ponce?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,850 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,480, a fair guide to starting pay.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Ponce than elsewhere?
The average here is 46% 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 Ponce, PR (38660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 13.3%.
- 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: Census median home value (Zillow does not cover this metro). 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.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.65, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.65).
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