Restaurant cook earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:

$22.33 per hour

$46,450 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:

$20.60 per hour

$42,850 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:

$17.80 per hour

$37,020 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:

$16.85 per hour

$35,050 per year

10th percentile

Starting level restaurant cook earnings begin at:

$14.28 per hour

$29,710 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Restaurant cook salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Washington $46,800
District of Columbia $46,130
Massachusetts $45,600
Hawaii $45,420
Vermont $45,390
Maine $45,290
California $44,880
New York $43,680
Oregon $43,100
Colorado $41,600
New Hampshire $40,200
Alaska $40,140
Connecticut $39,480
Arizona $38,670
Nevada $38,610
Minnesota $38,590
New Jersey $38,460
Montana $38,060
Delaware $37,840
Maryland $37,820
Illinois $37,580
Nebraska $37,030
Florida $37,020
Michigan $36,980
Missouri $36,940
Wyoming $36,830
Virginia $36,750
Pennsylvania $36,580
Wisconsin $36,550
Rhode Island $36,510
Utah $36,490
North Dakota $36,470
Idaho $36,440
Tennessee $36,420
South Dakota $36,220
Georgia $35,940
South Carolina $35,740
Iowa $35,670
Ohio $35,540
North Carolina $35,400
Indiana $35,170
Kansas $35,130
New Mexico $35,020
Texas $34,760
Kentucky $34,640
Alabama $32,180
Oklahoma $31,720
Arkansas $30,180
West Virginia $29,590
Mississippi $29,560
Louisiana $29,050
Virgin Islands, U.S. $28,630
Guam $19,930
Puerto Rico $18,210

How do restaurant cook salaries compare to similar careers?

Restaurant cooks earn 10% less than similar careers in Florida. On average, they make less than culinary chefs but more than food preparation workers.

Career Median Salary
Culinary chef salary $58K
Brewmaster salary $50K
Bartender salary $35K
Food server salary $36K
Butcher salary $43K
Restaurant cook salary $37K
Food batchmaker salary $36K
Baker salary $36K
Dietetic technician salary $35K
Food preparation worker salary $36K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)