Restaurant cook earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:

$20.77 per hour

$43,210 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:

$18.19 per hour

$37,840 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:

$17.28 per hour

$35,940 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:

$14.03 per hour

$29,190 per year

10th percentile

Starting level restaurant cook earnings begin at:

$11.62 per hour

$24,160 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 7% less than similar careers in Georgia. On average, they make less than brewmasters but more than hosts and hostesses.

Career Median Salary
Brewmaster salary $56K
Food batchmaker salary $46K
Butcher salary $39K
Dietetic technician salary $34K
Baker salary $35K
Restaurant cook salary $36K
Food preparation worker salary $35K
Bartender salary $23K
Barista salary $27K
Host and hostess salary $28K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)