Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Albuquerque, NM
Cooks, Restaurant in the Albuquerque, NM metro area earn a median $35,190 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,909 take-home, or $2,492 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Albuquerque, NM. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,043
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,182
- Medicare (1.45%)$510
- New Mexico income tax$546
- Take-home pay$29,909
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Albuquerque, NM
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,610 | $14.24 | $25,633 | $2,136 |
| 25th percentile | $31,000 | $14.90 | $26,705 | $2,225 |
| Median (50th) | $35,190 | $16.92 | $29,909 | $2,492 |
| 75th percentile | $37,300 | $17.93 | $31,514 | $2,626 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,250 | $20.79 | $36,039 | $3,003 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New Mexico resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,190 buys in Albuquerque, NM
Prices in Albuquerque, NM are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $29,909 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,304 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 Albuquerque, NM as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Albuquerque, NM ranks #73 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 |
| 73 | Albuquerque, NM | $35,190 | $29,909 | $31,304 |
*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 Albuquerque, NM?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Albuquerque, NM metro area is $35,190 a year, or about $16.92 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,000 and $37,300.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Albuquerque, NM?
On the median $35,190 salary, a single filer living in New Mexico takes home about $29,909 a year ($2,492 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $546 in New Mexico taxes in 2026.
Is Albuquerque, NM a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,304 would in a typical U.S. city. Albuquerque, NM ranks #73 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Albuquerque, NM?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Albuquerque, NM is $1,185 a month ($1,464 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Albuquerque, NM
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,270
- Waiter and Waitress — $38,050
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,380
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,140