Cooks, Restaurant pay in District of Columbia
In District of Columbia, the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $22.18 an hour ($46,130 a year). About 7,720 people work in this job there.
That is 23% higher than the U.S. median ($37,390). District of Columbia ranks 2nd of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in District of Columbia
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $17.52 | $36,440 |
| 25% of workers | $19.21 | $39,960 |
| Half of workers (median) | $22.18 | $46,130 |
| 75% of workers | $23.02 | $47,890 |
| 90% of workers | $25.49 | $53,020 |
Cooks, Restaurant pay in District of Columbia metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $42,920 | 29,670 |
District of Columbia unemployment rate: 5.7% (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 District of Columbia
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Food Preparation Workers | $39,600 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $44,670 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $76,420 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,450 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $45,450 |
| Bakers | $44,040 |
Other job titles for this job
Open cooks, restaurant jobs on JAI Bot
No open jobs in this field right now. Search all jobs or set up a free job alert.
Hiring cooks, restaurant? Use the free hiring guide for a job description and interview questions, then post the job on JAI Bot. Every job shows typical pay to job seekers.
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.