Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Dover, DE
Cooks, Restaurant in the Dover, DE metro area earn a median $35,570 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,463 take-home, or $2,455 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Dover, DE. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,088
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,205
- Medicare (1.45%)$516
- Delaware income tax$1,297
- Take-home pay$29,463
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.55% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Dover, DE
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,194 | $2,183 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,194 | $2,183 |
| Median (50th) | $35,570 | $17.10 | $29,463 | $2,455 |
| 75th percentile | $37,530 | $18.04 | $30,929 | $2,577 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,560 | $21.42 | $36,188 | $3,016 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Delaware resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,570 buys in Dover, DE
Prices in Dover, DE are 2.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 4% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $29,463 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,217 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 Dover, DE as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Dover, DE ranks #262 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 |
| 262 | Dover, DE | $35,570 | $29,463 | $30,217 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Dover, DE?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Dover, DE metro area is $35,570 a year, or about $17.10 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,200 and $37,530.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Dover, DE?
On the median $35,570 salary, a single filer living in Delaware takes home about $29,463 a year ($2,455 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,297 in Delaware taxes in 2026.
Is Dover, DE a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 2.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,217 would in a typical U.S. city. Dover, DE ranks #262 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Dover, DE?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dover, DE is $1,165 a month ($1,470 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Dover, DE
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,720
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $41,370
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,030
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,200