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Occupational Employment Statistics
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Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2018

35-1011 Chefs and Head Cooks

Direct and may participate in the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. May plan and price menu items, order supplies, and keep records and accounts.

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
128,600 2.9 % $25.08 $52,160 1.1 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $12.66 $17.10 $23.30 $31.01 $39.01
Annual Wage (2) $26,320 $35,570 $48,460 $64,500 $81,150

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Restaurants and Other Eating Places 69,680 0.65 $23.43 $48,740
Special Food Services 15,170 2.11 $26.52 $55,160
Traveler Accommodation 13,730 0.69 $28.91 $60,130
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries 6,650 0.51 $29.34 $61,030
Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly 2,590 0.28 $23.77 $49,430

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Special Food Services 15,170 2.11 $26.52 $55,160
Rooming and Boarding Houses 110 0.93 $20.78 $43,230
Traveler Accommodation 13,730 0.69 $28.91 $60,130
Restaurants and Other Eating Places 69,680 0.65 $23.43 $48,740
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries 6,650 0.51 $29.34 $61,030

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Performing Arts Companies 70 0.05 $36.73 $76,400
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water 60 0.35 $34.68 $72,140
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 1,490 0.07 $33.94 $70,600
Office Administrative Services (8) (8) $33.90 $70,510
Management of Companies and Enterprises 1,120 0.05 $32.35 $67,280

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 19,420 1.14 1.29 $24.71 $51,400
New York 15,500 1.65 1.86 $26.93 $56,020
Florida 11,150 1.30 1.46 $25.17 $52,350
Texas 6,020 0.50 0.56 $25.56 $53,170
Massachusetts 4,830 1.35 1.52 $27.08 $56,330




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Vermont 850 2.80 3.15 $21.92 $45,590
Nevada 3,450 2.56 2.88 $27.06 $56,290
South Carolina 3,630 1.76 1.98 $19.63 $40,820
Hawaii 1,080 1.68 1.89 $35.82 $74,510
New York 15,500 1.65 1.86 $26.93 $56,020




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Hawaii 1,080 1.68 1.89 $35.82 $74,510
New Jersey 2,640 0.65 0.73 $33.78 $70,260
District of Columbia 1,050 1.48 1.66 $31.63 $65,780
Delaware 530 1.18 1.33 $28.52 $59,330
Connecticut 2,640 1.59 1.79 $28.29 $58,830





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 14,310 1.51 1.70 $28.64 $59,570
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 8,230 1.35 1.51 $22.56 $46,930
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 4,020 0.87 0.97 $25.47 $52,980
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 3,930 1.62 1.83 $25.82 $53,710
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 3,580 1.30 1.46 $27.57 $57,350
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 3,030 0.97 1.09 $29.70 $61,770
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV 2,920 2.96 3.33 $27.72 $57,650
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 2,840 1.10 1.23 $27.20 $56,570
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 2,670 1.30 1.46 $20.97 $43,620
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 2,590 2.06 2.31 $23.91 $49,740