Cooks, Restaurant pay in Boston-Cambridge-Newton
In Boston-Cambridge-Newton (MA), the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $22.03 an hour ($45,830 a year). About 22,900 people work in this job there.
That is 23% higher than the U.S. median ($37,390). It is about the same as the Massachusetts median ($45,600).
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Boston-Cambridge-Newton (MA)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $17.70 | $36,810 |
| 25% of workers | $18.94 | $39,400 |
| Half of workers (median) | $22.03 | $45,830 |
| 75% of workers | $23.75 | $49,390 |
| 90% of workers | $28.22 | $58,690 |
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Massachusetts metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $46,930 | 1,760 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton (this page) | $45,830 | 22,900 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | $44,680 | 540 |
| Worcester | $44,250 | 2,490 |
| Pittsfield | $43,970 | 630 |
| Springfield | $39,970 | 1,410 |
Massachusetts unemployment rate: 4.3% (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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton (MA)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Food Preparation Workers | $39,660 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $48,530 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $39,600 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $72,470 |
| Bakers | $38,570 |
| Food Batchmakers | $37,010 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $48,910 |
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.