Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Boulder, CO
Cooks, Restaurant in the Boulder, CO metro area earn a median $42,220 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $34,954 take-home, or $2,913 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Boulder, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,886
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,618
- Medicare (1.45%)$612
- Colorado income tax$1,149
- Take-home pay$34,954
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Boulder, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,340 | $16.51 | $28,970 | $2,414 |
| 25th percentile | $37,500 | $18.03 | $31,370 | $2,614 |
| Median (50th) | $42,220 | $20.30 | $34,954 | $2,913 |
| 75th percentile | $46,350 | $22.28 | $38,091 | $3,174 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,600 | $26.25 | $44,357 | $3,696 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,220 buys in Boulder, CO
Prices in Boulder, CO are 5.2% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.57× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $34,954 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,226 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Boulder, CO has 1.3× 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
Boulder, CO ranks #82 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 |
| 82 | Boulder, CO | $42,220 | $34,954 | $33,226 |
*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 Colorado
- Denver, CO — $44,370
- Pueblo, CO — $35,920
- Grand Junction, CO — $36,420
- Fort Collins, CO — $38,370
- Colorado Springs, CO — $38,000
- Greeley, CO — $36,900
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Boulder, CO?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Boulder, CO metro area is $42,220 a year, or about $20.30 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,500 and $46,350.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Boulder, CO?
On the median $42,220 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $34,954 a year ($2,913 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,149 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Boulder, CO a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 5.2% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,226 would in a typical U.S. city. Boulder, CO ranks #82 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Boulder, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boulder, CO is $1,795 a month ($2,124 for two bedrooms) — 62% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boulder, CO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $52,020
- Waiter and Waitress — $49,870
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $48,020
- Bartender — $42,520
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,690
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $38,930
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $38,220
- Dishwasher — $37,750
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $37,460
- Cooks, Fast Food — $36,250
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,190