The median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in District of Columbia is $74,000 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $79,090.
Pay spans roughly $55,130 at the 10th percentile to $109,370 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $35.58 per hour. An estimated 1,940 people work as chefs and head cooks in District of Columbia.
| Median (annual) | $74,000 |
| Mean (annual) | $79,090 |
| Median (hourly) | $35.58 |
| 10th percentile | $55,130 |
| 90th percentile | $109,370 |
| Employment | 1,940 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.