Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA is $72,270. BLS estimates approximately 140 people work in this occupation in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA. Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA is 15.7% above the national median ($62,470).
Salary Distribution
Not everyone earns the median. Percentile wages show the range of pay within this occupation.
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,100 | $23.12 |
| 25th percentile | $53,930 | $25.93 |
| Median (50th) | $72,270 | $34.74 |
| 75th percentile | $76,010 | $36.54 |
| 90th percentile | $87,360 | $42.00 |
Data Reliability
BLS OEWS is a survey, not a full census — every estimate carries a margin of error. The relative standard error (RSE) below is BLS’s own measure of how much an estimate could vary; lower is more precise.
- Wage estimate
- RSE 5.2% — Reliable
- Employment estimate
- RSE 28.3% — Low reliability
Where Does Your Salary Fall?
Enter an annual salary to see roughly where it falls among reported wages for this occupation, based on the percentile points above.
Concentration
- Jobs per 1,000
- 1.112
- Location quotient
- 0.86
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA’s regional price level is above the national average (index 103.67, where 100 = U.S. average). Adjusted for that, the median salary has the purchasing power of $69,712 at the national price level.
This is a Career Atlas USA calculation based on BLS wage data and BEA Regional Price Parities. It is not a separate BLS wage estimate. Wage data: May 2025. Cost-of-living data: 2024.
Sources
Wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — May 2025 (release 25).
Figures shown as “Not available” reflect wages the source does not publish (e.g. suppressed for reliability), not zero.