Cooks, Restaurant pay in New Mexico
In New Mexico, the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $16.84 an hour ($35,020 a year). About 7,810 people work in this job there.
That is 6% lower than the U.S. median ($37,390). New Mexico ranks 43rd of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in New Mexico
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $13.51 | $28,100 |
| 25% of workers | $14.53 | $30,220 |
| Half of workers (median) | $16.84 | $35,020 |
| 75% of workers | $17.94 | $37,320 |
| 90% of workers | $20.87 | $43,400 |
Cooks, Restaurant pay in New Mexico metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe | $37,250 | 1,100 |
| Albuquerque | $35,190 | 3,390 |
| Farmington | $34,540 | 370 |
| Las Cruces | $30,980 | 730 |
New Mexico unemployment rate: 4.7% (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 New Mexico
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Food Preparation Workers | $33,370 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,470 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,190 |
| Bakers | $34,850 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $36,640 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,250 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,150 |
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.