Cooks, Restaurant pay in the United States
In the U.S., the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $17.98 an hour ($37,390 a year). About 1,409,890 people work in this job there.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in the U.S.
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $13.80 | $28,700 |
| 25% of workers | $16.35 | $34,010 |
| Half of workers (median) | $17.98 | $37,390 |
| 75% of workers | $21.45 | $44,620 |
| 90% of workers | $23.03 | $47,900 |
Best-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 | 35,140 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 | 7,720 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 | 29,570 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 | 11,090 |
| Vermont | $45,390 | 2,360 |
| Maine | $45,290 | 5,130 |
| California | $44,880 | 152,250 |
| New York | $43,680 | 71,530 |
| Oregon | $43,100 | 21,550 |
| Colorado | $41,600 | 30,600 |
Pay by state
- Alabama · $32,180
- Alaska · $40,140
- Arizona · $38,670
- Arkansas · $30,180
- California · $44,880
- Colorado · $41,600
- Connecticut · $39,480
- Delaware · $37,840
- District of Columbia · $46,130
- Florida · $37,020
- Georgia · $35,940
- Hawaii · $45,420
- Idaho · $36,440
- Illinois · $37,580
- Indiana · $35,170
- Iowa · $35,670
- Kansas · $35,130
- Kentucky · $34,640
- Louisiana · $29,050
- Maine · $45,290
- Maryland · $37,820
- Massachusetts · $45,600
- Michigan · $36,980
- Minnesota · $38,590
- Mississippi · $29,560
- Missouri · $36,940
- Montana · $38,060
- Nebraska · $37,030
- Nevada · $38,610
- New Hampshire · $40,200
- New Jersey · $38,460
- New Mexico · $35,020
- New York · $43,680
- North Carolina · $35,400
- North Dakota · $36,470
- Ohio · $35,540
- Oklahoma · $31,720
- Oregon · $43,100
- Pennsylvania · $36,580
- Rhode Island · $36,510
- South Carolina · $35,740
- South Dakota · $36,220
- Tennessee · $36,420
- Texas · $34,760
- Utah · $36,490
- Vermont · $45,390
- Virginia · $36,750
- Washington · $46,800
- West Virginia · $29,590
- Wisconsin · $36,550
- Wyoming · $36,830
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, restaurant
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +12.1% over ten years, much faster than average · about 218,600 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Food Preparation Workers | $35,320 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,890 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,450 |
| Bakers | $37,160 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,470 |
| Food Batchmakers | $42,290 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,880 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $40,140 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.