The median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $68,260 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $72,410.
Pay spans roughly $45,850 at the 10th percentile to $101,830 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $32.82 per hour. An estimated 4,480 people work as chefs and head cooks in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
| Median (annual) | $68,260 |
| Mean (annual) | $72,410 |
| Median (hourly) | $32.82 |
| 10th percentile | $45,850 |
| 90th percentile | $101,830 |
| Employment | 4,480 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.