How Much Does a Cook Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$37,390
Cooks in the U.S. earn a median of $37,390 a year, or $17.98 an hour. Half of cooks earn more than $37,390 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $47,900.
Pay percentiles for cooks
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $13.80 | $28,700 |
| 25th | $16.35 | $34,010 |
| 50th (median) | $17.98 | $37,390 |
| 75th | $21.45 | $44,620 |
| 90th | $23.03 | $47,900 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Cooks, Restaurant (SOC 35-2014). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for cooks
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 | $22.50 | +25% |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 | $22.18 | +23% |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 | $21.92 | +22% |
| Hawaii | $45,420 | $21.84 | +21% |
| Vermont | $45,390 | $21.82 | +21% |
| Maine | $45,290 | $21.78 | +21% |
| California | $44,880 | $21.58 | +20% |
| New York | $43,680 | $21.00 | +17% |
| Oregon | $43,100 | $20.72 | +15% |
| Colorado | $41,600 | $20.00 | +11% |
| United States | $37,390 | $17.98 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many cooks are there?
BLS counts about 1,409,890 cooks employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Cooks, Restaurant”. The most jobs are in California (152,250), Texas (126,620) and Florida (124,040).
The mean (average) annual wage is $38,730, higher than the median of $37,390.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $3,116
- Biweekly
- $1,438
- Weekly
- $719
- Daily (8 hours)
- $144
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do cooks make an hour?
The median hourly wage for cooks is $17.98. The middle 50% earn between $16.35 and $21.45 an hour.
Which state pays cooks the most?
Washington has the highest median wage for cooks at $46,800, +25% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for cooks?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of cooks earn less than $28,700 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.