Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Reno, NV
Cooks, Restaurant in the Reno, NV metro area earn a median $38,930 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,460 take-home, or $2,788 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Reno, NV. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,492
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,414
- Medicare (1.45%)$564
- Nevada income tax$0
- Take-home pay$33,460
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Reno, NV
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,640 | $13.77 | $25,192 | $2,099 |
| 25th percentile | $36,980 | $17.78 | $31,893 | $2,658 |
| Median (50th) | $38,930 | $18.72 | $33,460 | $2,788 |
| 75th percentile | $45,740 | $21.99 | $38,932 | $3,244 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,370 | $22.77 | $40,242 | $3,353 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Nevada resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,930 buys in Reno, NV
Prices in Reno, NV are 1.0% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.23× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $33,460 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,124 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Reno, NV has 1.3× the national concentration of cooks, restaurant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Reno, NV ranks #26 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 |
| 26 | Reno, NV | $38,930 | $33,460 | $33,124 |
*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 Nevada
- Las Vegas, NV — $38,800
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Reno, NV?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Reno, NV metro area is $38,930 a year, or about $18.72 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,980 and $45,740.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Reno, NV?
On the median $38,930 salary, a single filer living in Nevada takes home about $33,460 a year ($2,788 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Reno, NV a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,124 would in a typical U.S. city. Reno, NV ranks #26 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Reno, NV?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Reno, NV is $1,444 a month ($1,805 for two bedrooms) — 52% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Reno, NV
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,530
- Waiter and Waitress — $25,700