Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Provo, UT
Cooks, Restaurant in the Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT metro area earn a median $36,540 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,862 take-home, or $2,572 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Provo, UT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,205
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,265
- Medicare (1.45%)$530
- Utah income tax$678
- Take-home pay$30,862
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Provo, UT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,600 | $13.75 | $24,839 | $2,070 |
| 25th percentile | $34,280 | $16.48 | $29,147 | $2,429 |
| Median (50th) | $36,540 | $17.57 | $30,862 | $2,572 |
| 75th percentile | $37,870 | $18.21 | $31,870 | $2,656 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,960 | $22.10 | $38,007 | $3,167 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Utah resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,540 buys in Provo, UT
Prices in Provo, UT are 1.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.04× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $30,862 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,417 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 less concentrated in Provo, UT than nationally (location quotient 0.51), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Provo, UT ranks #197 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 |
| 197 | Provo, UT | $36,540 | $30,862 | $31,417 |
*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 Utah
- St. George, UT — $35,590
- Salt Lake City, UT — $36,700
- Ogden, UT — $36,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Provo, UT?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT metro area is $36,540 a year, or about $17.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,280 and $37,870.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Provo, UT?
On the median $36,540 salary, a single filer living in Utah takes home about $30,862 a year ($2,572 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $678 in Utah taxes in 2026.
Is Provo, UT a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 1.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,417 would in a typical U.S. city. Provo, UT ranks #197 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Provo, UT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Provo, UT is $1,265 a month ($1,460 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 Provo, UT
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,610
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,100
- Cooks, Fast Food — $34,700
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,420
- Dishwasher — $31,180
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,490
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $30,100
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,710
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,040