Executive Chef salary
From 57 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 35-1011: Chefs and Head Cooks
At a glance
- Mostly Level IV (expert). 40% of Executive Chef filings are Level IV, compared with 18% across all H-1B filings.
- Median up 25% since FY2020. From $51,615 in FY2020 to $64,262 in FY2025 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Executive Chef H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 57 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Executive Chef jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 35-1011, Chefs and Head Cooks). The median base salary is $65,936, 46% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $60,000 and $80,000. The most common wage level is Level IV (expert), at 40% of filings.
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 0% of filings
Mid-level · 28% of filings
Senior · 32% of filings
Expert · 40% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | – | 0 |
| Level II · Qualified | $60,000 | 14 |
| Level III · Experienced | $70,465 | 16 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $80,800 | 20 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
What a Executive Chef does
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.
Typical tasks
- Monitor sanitation practices to ensure that employees follow standards and regulations.
- Instruct cooks or other workers in the preparation, cooking, garnishing, or presentation of food.
- Supervise or coordinate activities of cooks or workers engaged in food preparation.
- Order or requisition food or other supplies needed to ensure efficient operation.
- Inspect supplies, equipment, or work areas to ensure conformance to established standards.
- Check the quantity and quality of received products.
Preparation
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
O*NET occupation: Chefs and Head Cooks (35-1011.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Chefs and Head Cooks), the median annual wage was $62,470 in May 2025, with 200,040 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $65,936, 6% higher.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $54,875 | $37,900 |
| 25th percentile | $60,000 | $48,440 |
| Median | $65,936 | $62,470 |
| 75th percentile | $80,000 | $78,750 |
| 90th percentile | $93,823 | $98,560 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $54,875 |
| 25th | $60,000 |
| 50th (median) | $65,936 |
| 75th | $80,000 |
| 90th | $93,823 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $51,615 | $45,490 | $67,500 | 20 |
| FY2021 | $52,042 | $47,000 | $68,500 | 23 |
| FY2022 | $64,000 | $52,000 | $70,000 | 37 |
| FY2023 | $60,299 | $53,726 | $75,587 | 25 |
| FY2024 | $65,000 | $57,000 | $78,354 | 45 |
| FY2025 | $64,262 | $60,000 | $81,200 | 50 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 7 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Executive Chef make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Executive Chef jobs is $65,936 (57 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $60,000 and $80,000.
Do H-1B Executive Chefs earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($65,936) is 6% higher than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($62,470, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.