Chef Salary in Seattle, WA: 2026
Chef salary data for Seattle, WA, adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.
The median Chef salary in Seattle, WA is $80,330 per year ($6,694/month, $38.62/hr). That is the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan area, which covers Seattle. Salario's cost-of-living model (index 152) would have estimated $94,954; the entry, senior and top tiers below are Salario estimates rescaled to the BLS median.
Median: BLS OEWS May 2025, Chefs and Head Cooks (SOC 35-1011), Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA MSA, $38.62/hr median. Entry, senior and top earner are Salario estimates rescaled to the BLS median.
Chef Take-Home Pay in Seattle
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $80,330 |
| Federal Tax | -$8,843 |
| State Tax (0.0% eff.) | -$0 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$6,145 |
| Annual Take-Home | $65,342 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $5,445 |
Living Cost Comparison
Chef Requirements
Key Skills
Seattle Job Market Overview
Seattle, Washington has a population of 737,015 and an unemployment rate of 3.0%. The top industries are Technology, Healthcare, Aerospace. The local job growth rate is 2.8%, and the average commute time is 28minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.
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Salary Percentile Breakdown: Chef in Seattle
Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Chef in Seattle, WA, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $46,900 | $23/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $63,615 | $31/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $80,330 | $39/hr | Mid-career, 2-5 years |
| 75th | $122,800 | $59/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $145,600 | $70/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
P50 is the measured BLS OEWS May 2025 metro median; P10, P25, P75 and P90 are approximations, not measured local percentiles: they map to Salario's entry, senior and top tiers rescaled to the BLS median, with P25 interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Seattle's Technology sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Salario's national dataset models approximately 12.0% salary growth for Chefs over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Seattle estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:
Year-over-year, an average Chef can expect a 17.4% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 6 years in Seattle. Negotiation, certifications (ServSafe Certification, CEC), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Seattle vs National Average
The national median Chef salary is $62,470 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Chefs and Head Cooks). In the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro, the BLS median of $80,330 is 28.6% above the national figure. Seattle's cost of living index is 152 (higher than the national average of 100), so the wage premium and the cost premium do not necessarily cancel out.
For Chefs, this means: rent typically consumes 44.1% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered rent-burdened), and a median home in Seattle costs about 11.9× annual take-home. Homeownership in Seattle on this salary is challenging, most experts recommend keeping home costs to 3-4× income.
Industry Context: Technology in Seattle
Seattle's economy is anchored by Technology, Healthcare, Aerospace, with 737,015 residents and an unemployment rate of 3.0% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Chefs can differ by sector, so compare Technology employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 2.8%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 6.0% growth outlook for Chef roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Chef salaries in Seattle, WA:
- Local median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks (SOC 35-1011) in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS reports by metro area, so this is a regional figure, not a Seattle-only wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment is shown only for comparison ($94,954 modeled) using the Seattle index of 152 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs stored separately in Salario's city dataset.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rescaled to the BLS metro median rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), WA 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 0.0%), and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine, occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation data (CPI measures price changes, not city-to-city price levels)
- U.S. Census Bureau, Seattle QuickFacts, population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary, 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, official local unemployment rates to verify the Seattle figure above
Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. Chef salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Technology vs others in Seattle), specific skill set (Culinary Arts, Menu Development, Food Safety), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Chef salary in Seattle, WA?
How much does a Chef take home in Seattle after taxes?
Is Seattle a good city for Chefs?
What skills are needed for a Chef in Seattle?
How does Chef salary in Seattle compare to the national average?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Chef salary in Seattle, WA?
The median Chef salary in Seattle, WA is $80,330 per year ($38.62/hr): the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks (SOC 35-1011) in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan area. BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city. The entry-level estimate of around $46,900 and the senior estimate of $122,800 or more are Salario tiers calibrated to that BLS median, not BLS percentiles.
How much does a Chef take home in Seattle after taxes?
A Chef earning the median salary of $80,330 in Seattle, WA takes home approximately $65,342 per year ($5,445/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 18.7%.
Is Seattle a good city for Chefs?
Seattle, WA has a cost of living index of 152 (above national average). Chefs here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 3.0% and top industries include Technology, Healthcare, Aerospace.
What skills are needed for a Chef in Seattle?
Key skills for Chefs include Culinary Arts, Menu Development, Food Safety, Kitchen Management, Cost Control. Typical education requirement is Culinary Arts Degree. Valuable certifications include ServSafe Certification, CEC, CMC.
How does Chef salary in Seattle compare to the national average?
The national median for Chefs and Head Cooks is $62,470 (BLS OEWS May 2025). In the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro, the BLS median is $80,330, which is 28.6% higher than the national figure. For comparison, Salario's cost-of-living model (index 152) would have estimated $94,954.