The median restaurant cook in the U.S. earns $37,390 a year ($17.98 an hour). Half earn between $34,010 and $44,620. Among the 50 largest metro areas, pay is highest in Seattle, WA ($47,730) and lowest in Birmingham, AL ($34,340).
Median $37,390
10th: $28,70090th: $47,900
Percentiles. Dark: the middle half of earners. Red line: median.
Cooks, Restaurant, May 2025.
Annual pay
U.S.
10th percentile
$28,700
25th percentile
$34,010
Median
$37,390
75th percentile
$44,620
90th percentile
$47,900
Average
$38,730
Jobs
1,409,890
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.