Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Billings, MT
Cooks, Restaurant in the Billings, MT metro area earn a median $38,260 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,880 take-home, or $2,657 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Billings, MT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,411
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,372
- Medicare (1.45%)$555
- Montana income tax$1,042
- Take-home pay$31,880
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Billings, MT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,300 | $14.57 | $25,859 | $2,155 |
| 25th percentile | $35,150 | $16.90 | $29,528 | $2,461 |
| Median (50th) | $38,260 | $18.39 | $31,880 | $2,657 |
| 75th percentile | $43,050 | $20.70 | $35,504 | $2,959 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,340 | $22.76 | $38,749 | $3,229 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Montana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,260 buys in Billings, MT
Prices in Billings, MT are 6.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 23% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $31,880 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,087 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Billings, MT has 1.6× 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
Billings, MT ranks #47 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 47 | Billings, MT | $38,260 | $31,880 | $34,087 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Montana
- Bozeman, MT — $42,430
- Helena, MT — $38,030
- Missoula, MT — $38,080
- Great Falls, MT — $36,610
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Billings, MT?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Billings, MT metro area is $38,260 a year, or about $18.39 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,150 and $43,050.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Billings, MT?
On the median $38,260 salary, a single filer living in Montana takes home about $31,880 a year ($2,657 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,042 in Montana taxes in 2026.
Is Billings, MT a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 6.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,087 would in a typical U.S. city. Billings, MT ranks #47 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Billings, MT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Billings, MT is $1,102 a month ($1,409 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Billings, MT
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,030
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,590
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,130
- Bartender — $23,550
- Waiter and Waitress — $22,940