Cooks, Restaurant pay in Washington
In Washington, the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $22.50 an hour ($46,800 a year). About 35,140 people work in this job there.
That is 25% higher than the U.S. median ($37,390). Washington ranks 1st of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Washington
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $18.24 | $37,940 |
| 25% of workers | $20.56 | $42,770 |
| Half of workers (median) | $22.50 | $46,800 |
| 75% of workers | $23.82 | $49,540 |
| 90% of workers | $27.84 | $57,910 |
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Washington metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $47,730 | 20,850 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $46,460 | 1,090 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $46,450 | 590 |
| Bellingham | $45,370 | 1,090 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $45,280 | 1,150 |
| Longview-Kelso | $44,980 | 310 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $44,960 | 1,090 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $44,550 | 780 |
| Yakima | $44,390 | 680 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $44,230 | 2,490 |
| Walla Walla | $44,050 | 260 |
Washington unemployment rate: 4.9% (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
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Food Preparation Workers | $40,910 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $49,670 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $39,120 |
| Bakers | $46,140 |
| Food Batchmakers | $42,710 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $76,010 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $51,670 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,760 |
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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.