Cooks, Restaurant pay in Denver-Aurora-Centennial
In Denver-Aurora-Centennial (CO), the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $21.33 an hour ($44,370 a year). About 15,410 people work in this job there.
That is 19% higher than the U.S. median ($37,390). It is 7% higher than the Colorado median ($41,600).
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Denver-Aurora-Centennial (CO)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $17.47 | $36,340 |
| 25% of workers | $18.68 | $38,850 |
| Half of workers (median) | $21.33 | $44,370 |
| 75% of workers | $22.09 | $45,950 |
| 90% of workers | $23.98 | $49,880 |
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Colorado metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial (this page) | $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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial (CO)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Food Preparation Workers | $39,470 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $45,070 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $38,530 |
| Bakers | $42,490 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,970 |
| Food Batchmakers | $46,210 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $49,050 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $44,200 |
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.