Chef and Head Cook Salary in the District of Columbia
Median annual pay in the District of Columbia
$76,420
$36.74/hour
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Adjusted for cost of living in the District of Columbia
$69,535
Regional Price Parity: 109.901 (U.S. = 100)
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Difference from the U.S. median ($62,470): +$13,950 (+22.3%)
The District of Columbia ranks 3rd of 51 states by median pay, and 10th of 51 after adjusting for cost of living.
Pay
| Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $56,570 | $27.20 |
| 25th percentile | $63,550 | $30.55 |
| Median | $76,420 | $36.74 |
| 75th percentile | $81,360 | $39.11 |
| 90th percentile | $104,660 | $50.32 |
Employment
- Employment in the District of Columbia
- 2,020
Advertisements
Comparison
Compared with the U.S.
- Median annual pay in the District of Columbia
- $76,420
- Median annual pay in the U.S.
- $62,470
- Difference
- +$13,950 (+22.3%)
Cost of living
$76,420 ÷ 109.901 × 100 = $69,535
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Ranking
| Rank | Median annual pay | Adjusted for cost of living (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | ||
| 1st | $79,930 | $78,148 3rd |
| Hawaii | ||
| 2nd | $77,360 | $70,359 8th |
| District of Columbia This page | ||
| 3rd | $76,420 | $69,535 10th |
| Washington | ||
| 4th | $76,010 | $71,029 6th |
| North Dakota | ||
| 5th | $74,740 | $84,016 1st |
Similar occupations
Related occupations from O*NET, in O*NET's order, with their BLS median pay. Each figure shows the place it is for.
- Baker salary in the U.S.
$37,160/year U.S.
- Food Service Manager salary in the U.S.
$69,390/year U.S.
- Waiter and Waitress salary in the U.S.
$35,230/year U.S.
- Dietetic Technician salary in the U.S.
$37,640/year U.S.
- Food Preparation Worker salary in the U.S.
$35,320/year U.S.
- Fast Food and Counter Worker salary in the U.S.
$31,200/year U.S.
Outlook
- Projected employment change, 2025–35 (U.S.)
- +6.6%
- Typical education needed for entry (U.S.)
- High school diploma or equivalent
BLS publishes employment projections only for the U.S. as a whole. BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
Advertisements
Chef and Head Cook salary in nearby places
- Chef and Head Cook salary in Maryland
$61,590/year Maryland
- Chef and Head Cook salary in Virginia
$63,270/year Virginia
- Chef and Head Cook salary in the U.S.
$62,470/year U.S.
Sources and update
- Wages and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
- Related occupations: O*NET® 31.0 Database, CC BY 4.0. Attributions
- Employment projections and typical education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Neighboring states: U.S. Census Bureau, County Adjacency File, 2024.
Last updated