Cook, All Other Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Cooks, All Other — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$37,690
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$18.12
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$51,140
entry level starts ~$27,040
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 19,000 employed

How much does a Cook, All Other make?

The median pay for a Cook, All Other in the United States is $37,690 per year — about $18.12 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $27,040, while the most experienced Cooks, All Other in the top 10% earn $51,140.

That is $23,700 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Cook, All Other salary range by percentile

Half of all Cooks, All Other earn between $32,150 and $43,680 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$27,040$13.00
25th percentile (early career)$32,150$15.46
50th percentile (median)$37,690$18.12
75th percentile (experienced)$43,680$21.00
90th percentile (top earners)$51,140$24.59

Highest-paying states for Cook, All Other

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Massachusetts leads the country for Cook, All Other pay at $69,570 a year, followed by Washington ($52,510) and Nevada ($51,220). At the other end, Iowa posts the lowest median at $26,060 — a gap of $43,510 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Massachusetts$69,570$33.45+85%
2Washington$52,510$25.25+39%
3Nevada$51,220$24.63+36%
4New Jersey$46,080$22.15+22%
5Indiana$44,290$21.29+18%

Workforce and education

About 19,000 people work as Cooks, All Other in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $39,150 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: no college degree is required — most training happens on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Cook, All Other make in the United States?
The median Cook, All Other salary in the United States is $37,690 per year, or about $18.12 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $27,040, while the top 10% of earners make $51,140 or more.
How does Cook, All Other pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Cook, All Other median of $37,690 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Cooks, All Other the most?
Massachusetts is the highest-paying state for Cooks, All Other, with a median salary of $69,570 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Cook, All Other?
Becoming a Cook, All Other typically requires no formal schooling beyond basic training. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
How many Cooks, All Other work in the United States?
About 19,000 people were employed as Cooks, All Other in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Related salaries

Other food service roles with similar pay.

Food Server, Nonrestaurant

$35,360
median pay · 294,000 employed

Food Preparation Worker

$35,320
median pay · 894,000 employed

Cook, Fast Food

$30,890
median pay · 641,000 employed

Dishwasher

$34,810
median pay · 477,000 employed

Fast Food and Counter Workers

$31,200
median pay · 3,854,000 employed

Waiters and Waitresses

$35,230
median pay · 2,271,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.