Prevailing Wage for Chefs and Head Cooks
The prevailing wage for Chefs and Head Cooks under SOC 35-1011 sets the minimum DOL-mandated pay an employer must offer to sponsor a Chef, Executive Chef, or Banquet Chef on an H-1B, E-3, or green card petition. DOL establishes four experience levels, and the floor shifts significantly by city, so where you'll be working matters as much as your title.
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Entry-level chefs with limited independent experience, typically working under close supervision in a structured kitchen hierarchy. DOL places candidates here when the role involves routine tasks with minimal complexity and no supervisory responsibility over other culinary staff.
The most common filing level for Chefs and Head Cooks. Applies to candidates with solid kitchen experience who work with some independence, handle multiple station responsibilities, and occasionally guide junior cooks without holding a formal leadership title.
Experienced chefs who exercise significant judgment, manage kitchen operations across multiple service periods, and may oversee a team. Roles at this level often carry a sous chef or department lead title and require demonstrated specialty expertise.
Senior positions such as Executive Chef or Executive Sous Chef with full authority over kitchen operations, menu development, staffing, and budget. These candidates set culinary direction and hold ultimate accountability for food program outcomes.
Prevailing Wage for Chefs and Head Cooks by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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Confirm your title matches the SOC filing
Titles like Cook or Line Cook are often filed under SOC 35-2014, not SOC 35-1011, which carries a lower prevailing wage floor. Verify your offer letter uses a title the employer is actually filing under before accepting.
Factor out service charges before comparing
Some hotel and resort employers in high-wage markets like Honolulu and Napa present total compensation including tip pools or service charges. DOL prevailing wage compliance counts only direct wages, so strip those out when checking the floor.
Watch how Level 2 is applied at independent restaurants
Independent restaurants frequently file at Level 1 even for chefs running a full section, because supervision is informal. If your responsibilities align with L2 scope, pushing back on the level can meaningfully raise the minimum wage the employer must offer.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with cooking history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have previously sponsored Chefs and Head Cooks on H-1B or green card petitions, letting you focus applications on kitchens and hospitality groups that have already navigated the DOL process for this occupation.
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Find Jobs for Chefs and Head CooksPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 35-1011.00 alongside Chefs and Head Cooks, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Banquet Chef Prevailing Wage
Banquet Chef Prevailing Wage
Banquet Chef positions fall under SOC 35-1011.00 (Chefs and Head Cooks). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Chef Prevailing Wage
Chef Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Chef for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 35-1011.00 (Chefs and Head Cooks). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Cook Prevailing Wage
Cook Prevailing Wage
Cook is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 35-1011.00 (Chefs and Head Cooks). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Executive Chef (Ex Chef) Prevailing Wage
Executive Chef (Ex Chef) Prevailing Wage
Executive Chef (Ex Chef) positions fall under SOC 35-1011.00 (Chefs and Head Cooks). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Executive Pastry Chef Prevailing Wage
Executive Pastry Chef Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Executive Pastry Chef for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 35-1011.00 (Chefs and Head Cooks). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Executive Sous Chef Prevailing Wage
Executive Sous Chef Prevailing Wage
Executive Sous Chef is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 35-1011.00 (Chefs and Head Cooks). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Food and Beverage Director Prevailing Wage
Food and Beverage Director Prevailing Wage
Food and Beverage Director positions fall under SOC 35-1011.00 (Chefs and Head Cooks). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Head Cook Prevailing Wage
Head Cook Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Head Cook for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 35-1011.00 (Chefs and Head Cooks). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Kitchen Manager Prevailing Wage
Kitchen Manager Prevailing Wage
Kitchen Manager is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 35-1011.00 (Chefs and Head Cooks). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Sous Chef Prevailing Wage
Sous Chef Prevailing Wage
Sous Chef positions fall under SOC 35-1011.00 (Chefs and Head Cooks). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Chefs and Head Cooks?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 35-1011, the agency identifies the median and distribution of reported wages for Chefs and Head Cooks within a geographic area, then assigns four wage levels based on where a salary falls relative to that distribution. Employers filing an LCA must pay at least the level corresponding to the position's duties.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which applies to my offer?
The four levels reflect increasing skill, responsibility, and independence. Level 1 covers entry-level work under close supervision. Level 2 applies to qualified candidates working with some autonomy. Level 3 covers experienced professionals who exercise independent judgment and may lead a team. Level 4 is for fully competent senior roles like Executive Chef. The employer determines the level when filing the LCA, but your actual duties, not just your title, should drive that classification.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same chef role vary so much by city?
DOL wages are calculated from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metro area produces its own wage distribution for Chefs and Head Cooks. High-cost hospitality markets like Honolulu and Napa report significantly higher median wages than smaller markets, pushing every level higher. Critically, LCA rules require the employer to use the prevailing wage for the actual worksite location, not the company's headquarters, so a national restaurant group filing from its home state must still meet the wage floor where the kitchen actually operates.
What happens if my job offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot file a certified LCA, and therefore cannot petition for an H-1B or complete a PERM labor certification, if the offered salary is below the applicable prevailing wage. USCIS will not approve a petition backed by a noncompliant LCA. If DOL or USCIS identifies a wage deficiency after filing, the employer faces potential back-pay liability and debarment from future sponsorship. The prevailing wage is a legal floor, not a negotiating starting point.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific Chefs and Head Cooks role in my city?
The OFLC Wage Search tool lets you look up current prevailing wages by SOC code and metropolitan area. Enter SOC 35-1011 and the metro area where you'll work, then select the wage year your employer is using. Cross-check the level the employer listed on the LCA against your actual duties. OFLC also publishes historical LCA disclosure data so you can see what comparable employers in the same city have filed for the same occupation.
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