Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (2025)
Official BLS OEWS data · May 2025 · 4,680 employed
Annual Mean
$74,250
$35.70/hr
Annual Median
$74,900
$36.01/hr
Bottom 10%
$43,110
$20.73/hr
Top 10%
$102,870
$49.46/hr
Location vs National Average
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
$74,250
Difference
+11.3% vs US avg
US National
$66,700
Salary Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual |
|---|---|
10th Percentile Bottom 10% | $43,110 |
25th Percentile Lower quarter | $59,930 |
50th PercentileMedian Median | $74,900 |
75th Percentile Upper quarter | $80,060 |
90th Percentile Top 10% | $102,870 |
Salary Distribution
Annual Salary Range
10th
$43K
25th
$60K
Median
$75K
75th
$80K
90th
$103K
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV has a moderate number of Chefs and Head Cooks positions (approximately 4,680), reflecting steady demand in this occupation.
In Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, Chefs and Head Cooks salaries range from $43,110 at the 10th percentile to $102,870 at the 90th percentile — a spread of $59,760 (80% of the median). This relatively narrow range suggests more consistent pay across employers in this area.
Related Occupations
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Public domain · Not affiliated with BLS.