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Average Cooks, Restaurant Salary in the United States

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

How much does a cooks, restaurant make in the United States?

The average salary for a cooks, restaurant in the United States is $36,060, but the range typically falls between $29,860 and $39,630. This corresponds to an average hourly wage of $17.34, with a range between $14.36 and $19.06.

There are approximately 1,412,350 people employed as a cooks, restaurant in the United States. With California, Florida, Texas employing the highest number of cooks, restaurant.The state with the best pay for a cooks, restaurant is Vermont, with an average annual salary of $42,390, while West Virginia has the lowest average annual salary of $28,090.

Annual SalaryHourly Wage
10th Percentile$26,980$12.97
25th Percentile$29,860$14.36
Median$35,780$17.2
75th Percentile$39,630$19.06
90th Percentile$46,420$22.32

Average cooks, restaurant salary by location

The salary of a cooks, restaurant can vary depending on the state. Below is a map of the United States showing the average annual salary for a cooks, restaurant in each state. The darker the color, the higher the salary. The best states for cooks, restaurant are Vermont, Washington, Massachusetts, Hawaii, California while the worst states are West Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi.

Lower salary
Higher salary
StateLow-endAverageHigh-end
Alabama$21,820$30,060$37,390
Alaska$30,220$39,940$47,770
Arizona$31,700$39,070$45,490
Arkansas$24,670$30,000$35,600
California$35,260$42,650$50,370
Colorado$30,280$40,760$49,250
Connecticut$30,620$38,540$47,200
Delaware$27,600$33,990$44,290
District of Columbia$37,200$41,570$47,280
Florida$28,140$35,190$44,420
Georgia$21,430$30,990$38,230
Hawaii$28,950$45,060$64,380
Idaho$17,300$31,790$43,920
Illinois$27,990$36,900$47,400
Indiana$22,980$32,070$39,710
Iowa$24,300$32,470$37,750
Kansas$22,100$32,280$41,160
Kentucky$22,050$30,880$38,620
Louisiana$22,100$29,270$36,270
Maine$31,860$41,060$48,380
Maryland$29,170$37,190$46,780
Massachusetts$35,260$43,420$55,120
Michigan$28,310$34,660$44,450
Minnesota$28,210$37,890$46,950
Mississippi$21,330$29,010$35,720
Missouri$27,080$34,000$43,360
Montana$23,830$35,010$47,550
Nebraska$27,350$34,720$43,800
Nevada$30,680$38,930$50,240
New Hampshire$30,460$39,310$47,490
New Jersey$30,910$39,600$47,490
New Mexico$26,820$31,790$36,690
New York$31,200$41,950$56,690
North Carolina$23,040$33,550$44,010
North Dakota$25,560$34,920$44,090
Ohio$23,400$32,070$39,200
Oklahoma$22,520$30,820$37,840
Oregon$29,960$38,000$47,050
Pennsylvania$22,290$32,560$42,700
Rhode Island$29,390$39,350$48,030
South Carolina$23,460$32,770$42,020
South Dakota$28,670$33,420$36,990
Tennessee$23,840$33,290$43,280
Texas$22,690$31,510$37,790
Utah$24,090$36,440$45,850
Vermont$36,190$42,390$48,710
Virginia$26,680$34,600$44,810
Washington$35,740$44,410$56,660
West Virginia$20,910$28,090$36,350
Wisconsin$27,130$35,240$44,990
Wyoming$23,540$34,340$48,290

Even between cities, the salary of a cooks, restaurant can vary. For example, the areas with the highest average salary for cooks, restaurant is Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina area, HI with an average salary of $51,130.The city with the lowest average salary for cooks, restaurant is Brownsville-Harlingen area, TX with an average salary of $25,790.

Areas with highest average salaries for cooks, restaurant

  1. Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina area, HI - $51,130
  2. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area, CA - $47,780
  3. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area, WA - $46,780
  4. Napa, CA - $45,810
  5. Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area, HI - $45,780

Areas with lowest average salaries for cooks, restaurant

  1. Brownsville-Harlingen area, TX - $25,790
  2. Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area, LA - $26,000
  3. Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area, WV - $26,240
  4. Monroe, LA - $26,290
  5. Laredo, TX - $26,490

Employment trends for cooks, restaurant in the United States

The number of cooks, restaurant in the United States has been increasing over the years. Since 2020, the number of cooks, restaurant has increased by 302,700. On average, the number of cooks, restaurant has been increasing by 6.8% each year. The salary of cooks, restaurant has been increasing. Since 2020, the salary of cooks, restaurant has increased by $6,530. On average, the salary of cooks, restaurant has been increasing by 5.5% each year.

Change in salary

Change in employment

How cooks, restaurant salaries compare to other food preparation and serving related occupations

Cooks, Restaurant are part of the food preparation and serving related occupations group. Below is a comparison of the average annual salary for cooks, restaurant compared to other jobs in the same occupation group. View all food preparation and serving related occupations jobs here.

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