Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Tulsa, OK
Cooks, Restaurant in the Tulsa, OK metro area earn a median $33,410 a year — 11% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,067 take-home, or $2,339 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Tulsa, OK. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,829
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,071
- Medicare (1.45%)$484
- Oklahoma income tax$958
- Take-home pay$28,067
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Tulsa, OK
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,520 | $11.79 | $21,244 | $1,770 |
| 25th percentile | $30,420 | $14.63 | $25,799 | $2,150 |
| Median (50th) | $33,410 | $16.06 | $28,067 | $2,339 |
| 75th percentile | $37,340 | $17.95 | $31,048 | $2,587 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,860 | $21.09 | $35,993 | $2,999 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oklahoma resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,410 buys in Tulsa, OK
Prices in Tulsa, OK are 10.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 32% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $28,067 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,460 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 Tulsa, OK as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Tulsa, OK ranks #66 of 101 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $46,560 | $37,630 | $36,943 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $47,730 | $40,531 | $36,471 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $47,170 | $38,588 | $34,946 |
| 5 | Worcester, MA | $44,250 | $35,742 | $34,863 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $44,370 | $36,587 | $34,588 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $37,840 | $31,742 | $34,536 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, NJ | $40,250 | $33,830 | $34,221 |
| 66 | Tulsa, OK | $33,410 | $28,067 | $31,460 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 101 metros →
About the job: cooks, restaurant
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Oklahoma
- Oklahoma City, OK — $36,130
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Tulsa, OK?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Tulsa, OK metro area is $33,410 a year, or about $16.06 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,420 and $37,340.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Tulsa, OK?
On the median $33,410 salary, a single filer living in Oklahoma takes home about $28,067 a year ($2,339 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $958 in Oklahoma taxes in 2026.
Is Tulsa, OK a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 11% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 10.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,460 would in a typical U.S. city. Tulsa, OK ranks #66 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Tulsa, OK?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tulsa, OK is $976 a month ($1,204 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 Tulsa, OK
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,900
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $30,750
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,100
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,460
- Waiter and Waitress — $18,350