Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Seattle, WA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $47,730 a year — 28% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,531 take-home, or $3,378 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,548
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,959
- Medicare (1.45%)$692
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$40,531
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 Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,360 | $18.44 | $33,002 | $2,750 |
| 25th percentile | $45,730 | $21.99 | $38,924 | $3,244 |
| Median (50th) | $47,730 | $22.95 | $40,531 | $3,378 |
| 75th percentile | $53,060 | $25.51 | $44,814 | $3,734 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,660 | $28.20 | $49,313 | $4,109 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,730 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $40,531 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,471 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 Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.10).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #3 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 |
*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 Washington
- Spokane, WA — $44,230
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Seattle, WA?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $47,730 a year, or about $22.95 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,730 and $53,060.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $47,730 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $40,531 a year ($3,378 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 28% above the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,471 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #3 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 60% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Chef and Head Cook — $80,330
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $61,610
- Bartender — $58,180
- Waiter and Waitress — $57,280
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $51,530
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $45,120
- Cooks, Fast Food — $44,030
- Food Preparation Worker — $43,830
- Dishwasher — $42,750
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $40,640
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $39,150
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $38,430