Maine Median
$57,010
per year
Hourly Rate
$27.41
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-9% vs US median
US median $62,470
State Rank
#40 of 51
1,250 employed here
How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make in Maine?
Chefs and Head Cooks in Maine take home a median of $57,010 annually — roughly $27.41 an hour — which runs 9% below the national median of $62,470.
Within Maine, entry-level pay starts around $48,430 while the top 10% make $81,120 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $55,070 and $63,060 a year.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary range in Maine
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,430 | $23.28 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $55,070 | $26.48 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $57,010 | $27.41 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $63,060 | $30.32 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,120 | $39.00 |
|
How Maine compares
Maine ranks 40th out of 51 states and territories for Chefs and Head Cooks pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other states
Rhode Island $79,930Hawaii $77,360District of Columbia $76,420Washington $76,010North Dakota $74,740New Jersey $74,280Wyoming $73,170South Carolina $71,860New York $70,670Tennessee $69,810Massachusetts $69,540Georgia $66,230Vermont $65,440Colorado $65,400California $64,500Missouri $64,480Connecticut $64,310Pennsylvania $63,860Oregon $63,600New Hampshire $63,400Virginia $63,270Minnesota $62,600Alabama $62,400Nevada $62,380New Mexico $62,250Maryland $61,590Delaware $61,440Wisconsin $61,300North Carolina $61,130West Virginia $61,100Nebraska $60,510Michigan $60,070Arizona $59,890Utah $59,060Illinois $58,830Oklahoma $58,540Kansas $58,390Florida $58,240Montana $57,470Texas $56,080Mississippi $54,850Ohio $53,990Alaska $52,190Indiana $52,190Idaho $52,000South Dakota $48,470Kentucky $48,070Iowa $47,990Arkansas $46,170Louisiana $45,570
Working as Chefs and Head Cooks in Maine
Nationally, about 200,000 people work as Chefs and Head Cooks in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare Maine pay ($57,010) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make in Maine?
The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Maine is $57,010 per year, or about $27.41 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $48,430 at the entry level to $81,120 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Maine pay compare to the national average?
Maine pays Chefs and Head Cooks about 9% less than the national median of $62,470. Maine ranks 40th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Maine a good state for Chefs and Head Cooks?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $57,010 a year. About 1,250 Chefs and Head Cooks are employed in Maine. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Maine?
The highest-paying occupations in Maine include Radiologist ($555,750), Physician, All Other ($419,410), Obstetricians and Gynecologists ($379,930), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Chefs and Head Cooks salary report
Related salaries
$44,080
median pay · 1,223,000 employed
$47,940
median pay · 1,000 employed
$30,890
median pay · 641,000 employed
$34,810
median pay · 477,000 employed
$31,200
median pay · 3,854,000 employed
$34,340
median pay · 756,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.