Money · 1 of 5

What chefs make

Typical

$62,470

New sous chef

$37,900

Executive chef at a hotel or group

$98,560

The national median is $62,470 a year and the bottom tenth are near $37,900. This is the survey group called Chefs and Head Cooks, which means the people running a kitchen. Line cooks sit in a separate, lower paid occupation, and that is where almost everyone starts.