Restaurant cook earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:

$23.77 per hour

$49,450 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:

$21.95 per hour

$45,650 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:

$17.55 per hour

$36,510 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:

$16.64 per hour

$34,610 per year

10th percentile

Starting level restaurant cook earnings begin at:

$15.31 per hour

$31,840 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 about the same as related careers in Rhode Island. On average, they make less than butchers but more than baristas.

Career Median Salary
Butcher salary $45K
Bartender salary $36K
Food server salary $35K
Baker salary $38K
Dietetic technician salary $39K
Restaurant cook salary $37K
Food batchmaker salary $39K
Food preparation worker salary $35K
Host and hostess salary $31K
Barista salary $31K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)