Cooks, Restaurant pay in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
In Washington-Arlington-Alexandria (DC), the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $20.64 an hour ($42,920 a year). About 29,670 people work in this job there.
That is 15% higher than the U.S. median ($37,390). It is 7% lower than the District of Columbia median ($46,130).
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria (DC)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $16.98 | $35,310 |
| 25% of workers | $17.69 | $36,790 |
| Half of workers (median) | $20.64 | $42,920 |
| 75% of workers | $22.15 | $46,070 |
| 90% of workers | $23.87 | $49,650 |
Cooks, Restaurant pay in District of Columbia metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria (this page) | $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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria (DC)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Food Preparation Workers | $37,630 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,800 |
| Bakers | $38,650 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,880 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $74,900 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $39,650 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $44,160 |
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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.