Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Helena, MT
Cooks, Restaurant in the Helena, MT metro area earn a median $38,030 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,706 take-home, or $2,642 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Helena, MT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,384
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,358
- Medicare (1.45%)$551
- Montana income tax$1,031
- Take-home pay$31,706
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Helena, MT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,650 | $14.25 | $25,367 | $2,114 |
| 25th percentile | $35,640 | $17.13 | $29,898 | $2,492 |
| Median (50th) | $38,030 | $18.28 | $31,706 | $2,642 |
| 75th percentile | $43,490 | $20.91 | $35,837 | $2,986 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,740 | $22.95 | $39,052 | $3,254 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Montana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,030 buys in Helena, MT
Prices in Helena, MT are 4.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 10% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $31,706 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,140 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Helena, MT has 1.4× 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
Helena, MT ranks #87 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 |
| 87 | Helena, MT | $38,030 | $31,706 | $33,140 |
*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
- Billings, MT — $38,260
- Missoula, MT — $38,080
- Great Falls, MT — $36,610
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Helena, MT?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Helena, MT metro area is $38,030 a year, or about $18.28 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,640 and $43,490.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Helena, MT?
On the median $38,030 salary, a single filer living in Montana takes home about $31,706 a year ($2,642 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,031 in Montana taxes in 2026.
Is Helena, MT a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,140 would in a typical U.S. city. Helena, MT ranks #87 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Helena, MT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Helena, MT is $1,307 a month ($1,622 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Helena, MT
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,330
- Waiter and Waitress — $23,020