Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Providence, RI
Cooks, Restaurant in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area earn a median $37,460 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,491 take-home, or $2,624 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Providence, RI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,315
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,323
- Medicare (1.45%)$543
- Rhode Island income tax$788
- Take-home pay$31,491
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.75% state
The Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro spans Rhode Island, Massachusetts. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Providence, RI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,840 | $15.31 | $27,186 | $2,266 |
| 25th percentile | $34,880 | $16.77 | $29,515 | $2,460 |
| Median (50th) | $37,460 | $18.01 | $31,491 | $2,624 |
| 75th percentile | $45,650 | $21.95 | $37,765 | $3,147 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,660 | $23.88 | $40,836 | $3,403 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Rhode Island resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,460 buys in Providence, RI
Prices in Providence, RI are 1.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.04× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $31,491 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,943 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Providence, RI 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
Providence, RI ranks #230 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 |
| 230 | Providence, RI | $37,460 | $31,491 | $30,943 |
*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 Providence, RI?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area is $37,460 a year, or about $18.01 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,880 and $45,650.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Providence, RI?
On the median $37,460 salary, a single filer living in Rhode Island takes home about $31,491 a year ($2,624 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $788 in Rhode Island taxes in 2026.
Is Providence, RI a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 1.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,943 would in a typical U.S. city. Providence, RI ranks #230 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Providence, RI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Providence, RI is $1,423 a month ($1,774 for two bedrooms) — 54% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Providence, RI
- Chef and Head Cook — $79,340
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,640
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $46,350
- Cooks, Short Order — $44,050
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,250
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,750
- Bartender — $35,680
- Cooks, Fast Food — $35,260
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,870
- Dishwasher — $34,640
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,700
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $31,200