What is the median salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Buffalo?

According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY is $74,290.

How does Buffalo pay compare to the US median for Chefs and Head Cooks?

Local median pay is 18.9% above the national OEWS median of $62,470.

How does cost of living change what that wage buys?

BEA RPP for Buffalo is 95.8 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $74,290 has about the same purchasing power as $77,547 at US-average prices.

How current is this data?

Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.

Chefs and Head Cooks, Buffalo

$74,290

BLS OEWS median annual wage in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY. Middle half of wages roughly $59,010 to $92,080.

BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA Regional Price Parity 2024. Disclaimer

vs US median: +18.9%
US median: $62,470
Metro RPP: 95.8
Middle half: $59,010 to $92,080
OEWS employment: 640
SOC: 35-1011

Chefs and Head Cooks in Buffalo pay a median $74,290 (May 2025), 18.9% above the US median of $62,470. At local prices (RPP 95.8), that median buys about what $77,547 buys at US-average prices.

Purchasing power

$74,290 in Buffalo buys about what $77,547 buys at US-average prices (BEA RPP 95.8, 2024). Housing (rents) RPP is 81 vs all-items 95.8 (US = 100, 2024).

Find jobs

See current openings for Chefs and Head Cooks in Buffalo.

Search on Indeed Search on LinkedIn

Opens external site · PayByCity is not affiliated with Indeed or LinkedIn · Listings not verified by us

Chefs and Head Cooks in nearby metros

Metro	Median	Middle half	RPP
Buffalo	$74,290	$59,010 to $92,080	95.8
Indianapolis	$49,010	$30,940 to $63,780	95.7
San Francisco	$68,970	$48,110 to $90,530	115.6
Tulsa	$54,930	$36,080 to $63,680	89.2

BLS OEWS May 2025 where published for the CBSA.

FAQ

What is the median salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Buffalo?: According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY is $74,290.
How does Buffalo pay compare to the US median for Chefs and Head Cooks?: Local median pay is 18.9% above the national OEWS median of $62,470.
How does cost of living change what that wage buys?: BEA RPP for Buffalo is 95.8 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $74,290 has about the same purchasing power as $77,547 at US-average prices.
How current is this data?: Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.

What this covers

Includes

BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)

Does not include

Federal, state, or local income taxes
Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand

Median wages are published BLS OEWS metro estimates; price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities. See methodology and disclaimer.