Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Boston, MA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $45,830 a year — 23% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,933 take-home, or $3,078 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,320
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,841
- Medicare (1.45%)$665
- Massachusetts income tax$2,072
- Take-home pay$36,933
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,810 | $17.70 | $30,136 | $2,511 |
| 25th percentile | $39,400 | $18.94 | $32,088 | $2,674 |
| Median (50th) | $45,830 | $22.03 | $36,933 | $3,078 |
| 75th percentile | $49,390 | $23.75 | $39,615 | $3,301 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,690 | $28.22 | $46,623 | $3,885 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,830 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $36,933 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,113 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #10 of 101 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $46,560 | $37,630 | $36,943 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $47,730 | $40,531 | $36,471 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $47,170 | $38,588 | $34,946 |
| 5 | Worcester, MA | $44,250 | $35,742 | $34,863 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $44,370 | $36,587 | $34,588 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $37,840 | $31,742 | $34,536 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, NJ | $40,250 | $33,830 | $34,221 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $45,830 | $36,933 | $34,113 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 101 metros →
About the job: cooks, restaurant
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Massachusetts
- Worcester, MA — $44,250
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Boston, MA?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $45,830 a year, or about $22.03 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,400 and $49,390.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $45,830 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $36,933 a year ($3,078 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,072 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 23% above the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,113 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #10 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 74% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Chef and Head Cook — $72,470
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $48,530
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $47,090
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,660
- Cooks, Short Order — $39,600
- Waiter and Waitress — $39,270
- Bartender — $37,760
- Dishwasher — $37,750
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $37,330
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,290
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $35,140
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,780