Cooks, Restaurant pay in Colorado
In Colorado, the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $20.00 an hour ($41,600 a year). About 30,600 people work in this job there.
That is 11% higher than the U.S. median ($37,390). Colorado ranks 10th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Colorado
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $16.63 | $34,590 |
| 25% of workers | $17.76 | $36,930 |
| Half of workers (median) | $20.00 | $41,600 |
| 75% of workers | $21.99 | $45,740 |
| 90% of workers | $23.87 | $49,650 |
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Colorado metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $44,370 | 15,410 |
| Boulder | $42,220 | 2,190 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $38,370 | 1,930 |
| Colorado Springs | $38,000 | 3,330 |
| Greeley | $36,900 | 1,000 |
| Grand Junction | $36,420 | 690 |
| Pueblo | $35,920 | 580 |
Colorado unemployment rate: 4% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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 Colorado
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Food Preparation Workers | $38,960 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $42,500 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $36,900 |
| Bakers | $40,650 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $65,400 |
| Food Batchmakers | $44,900 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $47,490 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,450 |
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.