Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Colorado Springs, CO
Cooks, Restaurant in the Colorado Springs, CO metro area earn a median $38,000 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,749 take-home, or $2,646 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Colorado Springs, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,380
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,356
- Medicare (1.45%)$551
- Colorado income tax$964
- Take-home pay$31,749
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Colorado Springs, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,050 | $15.89 | $27,990 | $2,332 |
| 25th percentile | $36,440 | $17.52 | $30,565 | $2,547 |
| Median (50th) | $38,000 | $18.27 | $31,749 | $2,646 |
| 75th percentile | $43,140 | $20.74 | $35,653 | $2,971 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,570 | $22.39 | $38,258 | $3,188 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,000 buys in Colorado Springs, CO
Prices in Colorado Springs, CO are 0.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.16× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $31,749 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,527 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 Colorado Springs, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Colorado Springs, CO ranks #63 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 |
| 63 | Colorado Springs, CO | $38,000 | $31,749 | $31,527 |
*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 Colorado
- Denver, CO — $44,370
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Colorado Springs, CO?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Colorado Springs, CO metro area is $38,000 a year, or about $18.27 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,440 and $43,140.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Colorado Springs, CO?
On the median $38,000 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $31,749 a year ($2,646 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $964 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Colorado Springs, CO a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 0.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,527 would in a typical U.S. city. Colorado Springs, CO ranks #63 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Colorado Springs, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Colorado Springs, CO is $1,461 a month ($1,727 for two bedrooms) — 55% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Colorado Springs, CO
- Waiter and Waitress — $46,230
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,390
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,420