Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in San Juan
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,730 a year or less, while the top 10% make $72,290 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in San Juan earn between $27,140 and $47,840.
- $24K10th
- $27K25th
- $36KMedian
- $48K75th
- $72K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,240 | $3,603 | $20.79 |
| Median | $35,990 | $2,999 | $17.30 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,140 | $2,262 | $13.05 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,840 | $3,987 | $23.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in San Juan vs. Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in San Juan earn 4% more than the Puerto Rico average ($41,480) and 35% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -42% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan | $43,240 | $35,990 | $23,730 | $72,290 | 550 |
| 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 San Juan a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in San Juan ($29,440). A typical home costs $138,700, or 3.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Puerto Rico cities
San Juan ranks 1st of 4 Puerto Rico metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 San Juan: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in San Juan?
$20.79 an hour on average, and $17.30 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in San Juan?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,730 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in San Juan than elsewhere?
The average here is 35% 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 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR (41980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 14.1%.
- 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 0.62, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.62).
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