The median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in New Jersey is $69,660 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $75,020.
Pay spans roughly $53,250 at the 10th percentile to $99,510 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $33.49 per hour. An estimated 6,060 people work as chefs and head cooks in New Jersey.
| Median (annual) | $69,660 |
| Mean (annual) | $75,020 |
| Median (hourly) | $33.49 |
| 10th percentile | $53,250 |
| 90th percentile | $99,510 |
| Employment | 6,060 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.