Cooks, Restaurant pay in the United States
What this work is
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
Where the money actually goes furthest
Washington pays the highest headline figure at $46,800. Adjusted for what things cost there it is worth $43,734 — less than Maine, where $45,290 is worth $46,666.
Pay by state
54 states and territories publish a median for this occupation. Switch the ranking to see how much the order changes.
Adjusted for what things cost in that state.
| State | Hourly | Annual | Worth locally | After state tax | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | $21.78/hr | $45,290 | $46,666 | $43,473 | 5,130 |
| Vermont | $21.82/hr | $45,390 | $46,335 | $44,103 | 2,360 |
| Washington | $22.50/hr | $46,800 | $43,734 | $46,800 | 35,140 |
| Massachusetts | $21.92/hr | $45,600 | $43,116 | $43,320 | 29,570 |
| District of Columbia | $22.18/hr | $46,130 | $41,974 | $44,438 | 7,720 |
| Oregon | $20.72/hr | $43,100 | $41,698 | $39,869 | 21,550 |
| Hawaii | $21.84/hr | $45,420 | $41,309 | $43,383 | 11,090 |
| Nebraska | $17.81/hr | $37,030 | $41,098 | $35,994 | 4,750 |
| North Dakota | $17.53/hr | $36,470 | $40,995 | $36,470 | 4,490 |
| South Dakota | $17.42/hr | $36,220 | $40,884 | $36,220 | 1,890 |
| Missouri | $17.76/hr | $36,940 | $40,673 | $36,060 | 25,990 |
| Iowa | $17.15/hr | $35,670 | $40,644 | $34,869 | 12,270 |
| California | $21.58/hr | $44,880 | $40,534 | $43,923 | 152,250 |
| New York | $21.00/hr | $43,680 | $40,474 | $41,882 | 71,530 |
| Colorado | $20.00/hr | $41,600 | $40,368 | $40,452 | 30,600 |
| Montana | $18.30/hr | $38,060 | $40,211 | $36,929 | 7,580 |
| Wyoming | $17.71/hr | $36,830 | $39,734 | $36,830 | 2,710 |
| Tennessee | $17.51/hr | $36,420 | $39,642 | $36,420 | 28,220 |
| Alaska | $19.30/hr | $40,140 | $39,214 | $40,140 | 2,350 |
| Minnesota | $18.55/hr | $38,590 | $39,129 | $37,305 | 26,080 |
| Kansas | $16.89/hr | $35,130 | $39,003 | $33,458 | 11,620 |
| Wisconsin | $17.57/hr | $36,550 | $38,841 | $35,656 | 25,410 |
| Nevada | $18.56/hr | $38,610 | $38,617 | $38,610 | 27,250 |
| New Hampshire | $19.33/hr | $40,200 | $38,590 | $40,200 | 7,190 |
| Michigan | $17.78/hr | $36,980 | $38,432 | $35,646 | 39,100 |
| Kentucky | $16.65/hr | $34,640 | $38,420 | $33,380 | 13,510 |
| Arizona | $18.59/hr | $38,670 | $38,408 | $38,068 | 30,870 |
| Ohio | $17.09/hr | $35,540 | $38,309 | $35,279 | 46,910 |
| Idaho | $17.52/hr | $36,440 | $38,161 | $35,282 | 8,130 |
| South Carolina | $17.18/hr | $35,740 | $38,122 | $35,106 | 25,890 |
| Connecticut | $18.98/hr | $39,480 | $38,104 | $37,953 | 14,830 |
| New Mexico | $16.84/hr | $35,020 | $37,978 | $34,390 | 7,810 |
| Delaware | $18.19/hr | $37,840 | $37,912 | $36,306 | 5,280 |
| Indiana | $16.91/hr | $35,170 | $37,683 | $34,144 | 26,960 |
| Illinois | $18.07/hr | $37,580 | $37,595 | $35,857 | 53,540 |
| North Carolina | $17.02/hr | $35,400 | $37,527 | $34,437 | 50,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $17.59/hr | $36,580 | $37,491 | $35,456 | 54,100 |
| Georgia | $17.28/hr | $35,940 | $37,324 | $34,697 | 46,350 |
| Utah | $17.55/hr | $36,490 | $36,910 | $34,829 | 10,520 |
| Virginia | $17.67/hr | $36,750 | $36,350 | $35,383 | 40,310 |
| Alabama | $15.47/hr | $32,180 | $36,230 | $30,761 | 16,260 |
| Oklahoma | $15.25/hr | $31,720 | $36,111 | $30,703 | 17,050 |
| Maryland | $18.19/hr | $37,820 | $36,032 | $36,204 | 17,690 |
| Texas | $16.71/hr | $34,760 | $35,812 | $34,760 | 126,620 |
| Florida | $17.80/hr | $37,020 | $35,799 | $37,020 | 124,040 |
| Rhode Island | $17.55/hr | $36,510 | $35,696 | $35,536 | 6,950 |
| New Jersey | $18.49/hr | $38,460 | $35,346 | $37,796 | 28,800 |
| Arkansas | $14.51/hr | $30,180 | $34,713 | $29,179 | 11,270 |
| Mississippi | $14.21/hr | $29,560 | $33,996 | $28,360 | 10,770 |
| West Virginia | $14.23/hr | $29,590 | $33,061 | $28,771 | 6,450 |
| Louisiana | $13.97/hr | $29,050 | $32,932 | $28,553 | 14,910 |
| Virgin Islands | $17.99/hr | $37,430 | Not published | Not published | 410 |
| Puerto Rico | $11.85/hr | $24,650 | Not published | Not published | 9,810 |
| Guam | $11.03/hr | $22,950 | Not published | Not published | 1,110 |
National median for comparison: $37,390. “Worth locally” divides pay by the area’s price level, so a figure above the headline means money goes further there than the US average.
$17.98/hr an hour, national median
Across the states
25th to 75th percentile, lowest and highest state
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