Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Eugene
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,910 a year or less, while the top 10% make $86,450 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Eugene earn between $48,400 and $73,000.
- $46K10th
- $48K25th
- $63KMedian
- $73K75th
- $86K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,060 | $5,338 | $30.80 |
| Median | $62,960 | $5,247 | $30.27 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,400 | $4,033 | $23.27 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Eugene vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Eugene earn 5% less than the Oregon average ($67,510) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene | $64,060 | $62,960 | $45,910 | $86,450 | 230 |
| Oregon | $67,510 | $63,600 | $45,910 | $95,180 | 2,510 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Eugene
On the average salary of $64,060, a single filer in Eugene takes home about $49,086 a year, or $4,091 a month and $1,888 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Eugene a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Eugene area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.6), so the average $64,060 buys what about $63,071 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Eugene ($49,680). A typical home costs $459,366, or 7.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Oregon cities
Eugene ranks 5th of 6 Oregon metro areas for this job; Portland pays the most ($69,430).
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Eugene: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Eugene?
$30.80 an hour on average, and $30.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Eugene?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,910 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,400, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Eugene?
About $49,086 a year ($4,091 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,060. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Eugene than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Eugene-Springfield, OR (21660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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