$ PaycheckDecoded

Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Cooks, Restaurant Salary

Cooks, Restaurant earn a median $37,390 a year nationally. Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations

U.S. median
$37,390
$17.98 per hour
Range
$28,700 – $47,900
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
1,409,890
across the U.S.
▲1.5%
Pay trend: The median for cooks, restaurant in the U.S. rose from $36,830 (May 2024) to $37,390 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 0.9%.

What cooks, restaurant do

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)
Openings per year
218,600

Employment of cooks, restaurant is projected to grow 12.1% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 218,600 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Cooks, Restaurant take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Cooks, Restaurant
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$32,223
per year · effective tax rate 13.8%
$2,685Monthly
$1,343Twice a month
$1,239Every 2 weeks
$15.49Hourly
  • Federal income tax$2,307
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,318
  • Medicare (1.45%)$542
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$32,223

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$28,700$13.80$25,240
25th percentile$34,010$16.35$29,507
Median (50th)$37,390$17.98$32,223
75th percentile$44,620$21.45$38,032
90th percentile (top earners)$47,900$23.03$40,668

Best cities for cooks, restaurant (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Spokane, WA$44,230$37,719$37,5892,490
2Portland, ME$46,560$37,630$36,9432,730
3Seattle, WA$47,730$40,531$36,47120,850
4San Jose, CA$47,170$38,588$34,9468,900
5Worcester, MA$44,250$35,742$34,8632,490
6Denver, CO$44,370$36,587$34,58815,410
7Omaha, NE$37,840$31,742$34,5362,850
8Atlantic City, NJ$40,250$33,830$34,2213,370
9Naples, FL$41,220$35,300$34,2063,650
10Boston, MA$45,830$36,933$34,11322,900
11Sacramento, CA$44,230$36,385$34,1109,240
12Nashville, TN$38,170$32,850$34,09810,420
13Knoxville, TN$36,520$31,524$34,0543,820
14Memphis, TN$36,340$31,379$34,0424,800
15Chattanooga, TN$36,010$31,114$34,0182,490
16San Diego, CA$46,440$38,044$34,00215,670
17Kansas City, MO$37,370$31,388$33,9179,940
18Cleveland, OH$37,060$31,721$33,7738,190
19Bridgeport, CT$43,400$36,024$33,7103,970
20Portland, OR$45,200$35,373$33,55413,020
21Toledo, OH$35,560$30,557$33,4122,920
22Oklahoma City, OK$36,130$30,130$33,3277,130
23Las Vegas, NV$38,800$33,356$33,28422,530
24St. Louis, MO$37,690$31,630$33,26412,970
25Des Moines, IA$36,070$30,443$33,1993,320

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Cooks, Restaurant salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
Washington $46,800+4.0%$39,784 $37,940 – $57,91035,140
District of Columbia $46,130+2.0%$37,644 $36,440 – $53,0207,720
Massachusetts $45,600−1.5%$36,760 $36,540 – $58,59029,570
Hawaii $45,420+1.6%$36,721 $35,740 – $65,32011,090
Vermont $45,390+1.9%$37,564 $31,210 – $56,1802,360
Maine $45,290+0.9%$36,695 $38,040 – $49,5305,130
California $44,880+1.3%$36,873 $37,100 – $55,580152,250
New York $43,680+9.5%$35,515 $34,490 – $54,24071,530
Oregon $43,100+13.3%$33,869 $36,080 – $58,28021,550
Colorado $41,600+6.2%$34,484 $34,590 – $49,65030,600
New Hampshire $40,200+2.9%$34,481 $34,390 – $49,4007,190
Alaska $40,140+3.9%$34,432 $36,230 – $46,8002,350
Connecticut $39,480+3.8%$33,051 $35,460 – $49,42014,830
Arizona $38,670+1.9%$32,493 $33,250 – $46,24030,870
Nevada $38,610+3.9%$33,203 $30,300 – $56,54027,250
Minnesota $38,590+1.0%$31,941 $31,280 – $47,85026,080
New Jersey $38,460+1.0%$32,454 $32,220 – $50,01028,800
Montana $38,060+3.3%$31,729 $29,380 – $47,6707,580
Delaware $37,840+2.8%$31,161 $31,250 – $46,9405,280
Maryland $37,820+0.9%$31,136 $35,030 – $47,84017,690
Illinois $37,580+2.6%$30,660 $31,200 – $46,46053,540
Nebraska $37,030+0.6%$31,128 $28,680 – $44,8804,750
Florida $37,020+2.0%$31,926 $29,710 – $46,450124,040
Michigan $36,980+1.1%$30,573 $29,570 – $46,03039,100
Missouri $36,940+4.6%$31,062 $28,890 – $46,97025,990
Wyoming $36,830+0.2%$31,773 $27,850 – $52,5302,710
Virginia $36,750+0.5%$30,410 $29,340 – $45,74040,310
Pennsylvania $36,580+3.5%$30,449 $22,650 – $45,12054,100
Wisconsin $36,550−1.1%$30,721 $28,010 – $46,27025,410
Rhode Island $36,510−6.2%$30,764 $31,840 – $49,4506,950
Utah $36,490−0.1%$30,824 $28,800 – $46,58010,520
North Dakota $36,470+1.1%$31,484 $28,850 – $45,6504,490
Idaho $36,440+4.4%$30,637 $25,470 – $47,0208,130
Tennessee $36,420+1.7%$31,443 $27,910 – $45,65028,220
South Dakota $36,220+3.0%$31,283 $30,140 – $44,9901,890
Georgia $35,940+2.4%$29,815 $24,160 – $43,21046,350
South Carolina $35,740+0.1%$29,910 $26,200 – $45,68025,890
Iowa $35,670−0.1%$30,137 $28,690 – $44,46012,270
Ohio $35,540+2.3%$30,541 $27,590 – $44,94046,910
North Carolina $35,400+0.5%$29,720 $27,980 – $45,45050,150
Indiana $35,170+0.4%$29,431 $26,000 – $44,19026,960
Kansas $35,130+2.7%$29,244 $26,120 – $44,54011,620
New Mexico $35,020+2.7%$29,780 $28,100 – $43,4007,810
Texas $34,760+2.1%$30,110 $23,330 – $42,810126,620
Kentucky $34,640+11.9%$28,918 $24,750 – $43,75013,510
Alabama $32,180+6.9%$26,693 $24,170 – $39,22016,260
Oklahoma $31,720+3.6%$26,785 $22,850 – $44,17017,050
Arkansas $30,180+2.4%$25,465 $26,020 – $37,14011,270
West Virginia $29,590+3.6%$25,203 $22,180 – $38,0106,450
Mississippi $29,560+0.1%$25,481 $22,010 – $36,88010,770
Louisiana $29,050+0.6%$25,036 $21,970 – $39,54014,910

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$37,450No formal educational credential+2.8%
Cooks, All Other$37,690No formal educational credential+5.2%
Cooks, Short Order$35,880No formal educational credential-5.2%
Cooks, Fast Food$30,890No formal educational credential+0.6%
Cooks, Private Household$47,940Postsecondary nondegree award+5.1%
Food Preparation Worker$35,320No formal educational credential-3.0%
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$35,840No formal educational credential+5.5%
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$35,360No formal educational credential+4.5%
Waiter and Waitress$35,230No formal educational credential+2.0%
Dishwasher$34,810No formal educational credential-1.0%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a cooks, restaurant make?

The national median salary for cooks, restaurant is $37,390 a year ($17.98 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $28,700 and the top 10% earn over $47,900. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays cooks, restaurant the most?

Washington has the highest median pay at $46,800. After taxes and local prices, Spokane, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many cooks, restaurant are there in the U.S.?

About 1,409,890 people work as cooks, restaurant nationwide.

All 101 cities