Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Washington, DC
Cooks, Restaurant in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $42,920 a year — 15% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,257 take-home, or $2,938 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,970
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,661
- Medicare (1.45%)$622
- District of Columbia income tax$1,409
- Take-home pay$35,257
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. 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 Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,310 | $16.98 | $29,599 | $2,467 |
| 25th percentile | $36,790 | $17.69 | $30,699 | $2,558 |
| Median (50th) | $42,920 | $20.63 | $35,257 | $2,938 |
| 75th percentile | $46,070 | $22.15 | $37,599 | $3,133 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,650 | $23.87 | $40,261 | $3,355 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,920 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $35,257 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,380 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 Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #40 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 |
| 40 | Washington, DC | $42,920 | $35,257 | $32,380 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Washington, DC?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $42,920 a year, or about $20.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,790 and $46,070.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $42,920 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $35,257 a year ($2,938 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,409 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 15% above the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,380 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #40 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 68% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- Chef and Head Cook — $74,900
- Bartender — $48,030
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $47,580
- Waiter and Waitress — $46,040
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $44,880
- Cooks, Short Order — $39,650
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,630
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $37,540
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $37,260
- Dishwasher — $37,010
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,360
- Cooks, Fast Food — $35,800