Median Salary
$37,390
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$17.98
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$47,900
entry level starts ~$28,700
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 1,410,000 employed
How much does a Cook, Restaurant make?
A Cook, Restaurant earns a median annual salary of $37,390 in the United States, which works out to roughly $17.98 per hour for full-time work. Most Cooks, Restaurant earn between $28,700 at the entry level and $47,900 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $34,010 and $44,620 a year.
That is $24,000 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Cook, Restaurant salary range by percentile
Half of all Cooks, Restaurant earn between $34,010 and $44,620 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,700 | $13.80 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $34,010 | $16.35 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $37,390 | $17.98 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $44,620 | $21.45 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,900 | $23.03 |
|
Highest-paying states for Cook, Restaurant
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Washington leads the country for Cook, Restaurant pay at $46,800 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($46,130) and Massachusetts ($45,600). At the other end, Louisiana posts the lowest median at $29,050 — a gap of $17,750 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Cook, Restaurant salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Washington $46,800District of Columbia $46,130Massachusetts $45,600Hawaii $45,420Vermont $45,390Maine $45,290California $44,880New York $43,680Oregon $43,100Colorado $41,600New Hampshire $40,200Alaska $40,140Connecticut $39,480Arizona $38,670Nevada $38,610Minnesota $38,590New Jersey $38,460Montana $38,060Delaware $37,840Maryland $37,820Illinois $37,580Nebraska $37,030Florida $37,020Michigan $36,980Missouri $36,940Wyoming $36,830Virginia $36,750Pennsylvania $36,580Wisconsin $36,550Rhode Island $36,510Utah $36,490North Dakota $36,470Idaho $36,440Tennessee $36,420South Dakota $36,220Georgia $35,940South Carolina $35,740Iowa $35,670Ohio $35,540North Carolina $35,400Indiana $35,170Kansas $35,130New Mexico $35,020Texas $34,760Kentucky $34,640Alabama $32,180Oklahoma $31,720Arkansas $30,180West Virginia $29,590Mississippi $29,560Louisiana $29,050
Workforce and education
About 1,410,000 people work as Cooks, Restaurant in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $38,730 — 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, Restaurant make in the United States?
The median Cook, Restaurant salary in the United States is $37,390 per year, or about $17.98 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $28,700, while the top 10% of earners make $47,900 or more.
How does Cook, Restaurant pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Cook, Restaurant median of $37,390 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Cooks, Restaurant the most?
Washington is the highest-paying state for Cooks, Restaurant, with a median salary of $46,800 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Cook, Restaurant?
Becoming a Cook, Restaurant typically requires no formal schooling beyond basic training. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
How many Cooks, Restaurant work in the United States?
About 1,410,000 people were employed as Cooks, Restaurant in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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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.