Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Syracuse, NY
Cooks, Restaurant in the Syracuse, NY metro area earn a median $38,740 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,813 take-home, or $2,651 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Syracuse, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,469
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,402
- Medicare (1.45%)$562
- New York income tax$1,495
- Take-home pay$31,813
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Syracuse, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,320 | $16.50 | $28,500 | $2,375 |
| 25th percentile | $36,420 | $17.51 | $30,074 | $2,506 |
| Median (50th) | $38,740 | $18.63 | $31,813 | $2,651 |
| 75th percentile | $45,020 | $21.64 | $36,519 | $3,043 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,080 | $22.15 | $37,314 | $3,109 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,740 buys in Syracuse, NY
Prices in Syracuse, NY are 4.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 19% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $31,813 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,227 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 Syracuse, NY than nationally (location quotient 0.69), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Syracuse, NY ranks #81 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 |
| 81 | Syracuse, NY | $38,740 | $31,813 | $33,227 |
*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 New York
- Kingston, NY — $43,150
- Utica, NY — $38,150
- Glens Falls, NY — $38,730
- Binghamton, NY — $37,530
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $44,000
- Buffalo, NY — $38,060
- Albany, NY — $39,610
- Rochester, NY — $38,380
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Syracuse, NY?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Syracuse, NY metro area is $38,740 a year, or about $18.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,420 and $45,020.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Syracuse, NY?
On the median $38,740 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $31,813 a year ($2,651 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,495 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Syracuse, NY a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,227 would in a typical U.S. city. Syracuse, NY ranks #81 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Syracuse, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Syracuse, NY is $1,123 a month ($1,392 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Syracuse, NY
- Waiter and Waitress — $47,640
- Bartender — $46,710
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,830
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $40,450
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $36,770
- Cooks, Short Order — $36,190
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $35,540
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,020
- Dishwasher — $34,530
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,940
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $33,560