Chef Salary in Seattle (2026)

Typical local-market pay: $39,750/year (COLI estimate No local salary survey for this role — scaled from the US baseline by city COLI. Not market pay.). Lifestyle equivalent of a New York $50,000 salary: $39,750/year (COLI-scaled, not market pay). COLI rank #13 of 113.

Local market
$39,750
COLI estimate No local salary survey for this role — scaled from the US baseline by city COLI. Not market pay.
Lifestyle equivalent
$39,750
COLI 79.5 · NYC $50,000 scaled · not market pay
Take-home (on market pay)
81%
$2,680/mo net
COLI (NYC = 100)
79.5
#13 of 113
NYC baseline
$50,000
mid-career USD

Salary Range in Seattle

COLI-scaled lifestyle-equivalent range for a chef in Seattle (NYC baseline × COLI 79.5 / 100). This is not local market pay.

Entry Level
$19,875
Mid-Career
$39,750
Senior
$79,500

Top Cities for Chef Salary

Highest COLI-scaled lifestyle equivalents (not local market pay):

City Local market Lifestyle equivalent Take-Home
ZurichCHF 49,587CHF 49,58764%
GenevaCHF 48,047CHF 48,04761%
New York$50,000$50,00070%
San Francisco$48,800$48,80071%
SingaporeS$57,124S$57,12477%

See all 113 cities for Chef →

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Other Jobs in Seattle

Chef Salary — Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a chef earn in Seattle?

Local-market pay for a chef in Seattle is approximately $39,750/year (COLI estimate only — not market pay). Separately, the lifestyle equivalent of a New York $50,000 salary is $39,750 (COLI 79.5, NYC = 100). That equivalent is not what someone earns locally. COLI-scaled entry/senior lifestyle equivalents: $19,875 – $79,500.

What is the take-home pay for a chef in Seattle?

After income tax and social contributions in United States, a chef in Seattle takes home approximately 81% of their gross salary, or around $2,680/month ($32,158/year in USD equivalent).

How does Seattle rank for chef salaries globally?

Seattle ranks #13 out of 113 cities on COLI-scaled lifestyle equivalent for chefs (not local market rank). The top city on that equivalent scale is Zurich.