Restaurant Cooks salary by state
The U.S. median wage for restaurant cooks is $37,390 a year. Washington pays the most on average. Take-home pay and buying power use Wagevane's calculators.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 35-2014.
| State | Median salary | Average salary | Take-home (median) | Buying power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $32,180 | $33,000 | $26,693 | $30,051 |
| Alaska | $40,140 | $41,770 | $34,031 | $33,247 |
| Arizona | $38,670 | $40,070 | $32,687 | $32,467 |
| Arkansas | $30,180 | $31,650 | $25,801 | $29,677 |
| California | $44,880 | $45,020 | $36,880 | $33,309 |
| Colorado | $41,600 | $42,360 | $34,301 | $33,285 |
| Connecticut | $39,480 | $42,110 | $32,853 | $31,709 |
| Delaware | $37,840 | $39,190 | $31,010 | $31,069 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 | $45,570 | $37,644 | $34,252 |
| Florida | $37,020 | $38,320 | $31,926 | $30,872 |
| Georgia | $35,940 | $34,430 | $30,013 | $31,168 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 | $47,080 | $36,753 | $33,427 |
| Idaho | $36,440 | $36,970 | $30,637 | $32,082 |
| Illinois | $37,580 | $39,520 | $30,660 | $30,673 |
| Indiana | $35,170 | $34,150 | $29,431 | $31,535 |
| Iowa | $35,670 | $35,700 | $30,137 | $34,340 |
| Kansas | $35,130 | $34,900 | $29,244 | $32,469 |
| Kentucky | $34,640 | $33,700 | $28,918 | $32,075 |
| Louisiana | $29,050 | $30,630 | $25,036 | $28,384 |
| Maine | $45,290 | $45,240 | $36,469 | $37,577 |
| Maryland | $37,820 | $40,120 | $31,136 | $29,664 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 | $45,450 | $36,550 | $34,560 |
| Michigan | $36,980 | $37,570 | $30,573 | $31,775 |
| Minnesota | $38,590 | $40,210 | $31,771 | $32,216 |
| Mississippi | $29,560 | $29,770 | $25,481 | $29,304 |
| Missouri | $36,940 | $38,460 | $31,062 | $34,203 |
| Montana | $38,060 | $38,980 | $31,729 | $33,524 |
| Nebraska | $37,030 | $37,190 | $31,128 | $34,547 |
| Nevada | $38,610 | $42,130 | $33,203 | $33,210 |
| New Hampshire | $40,200 | $41,990 | $34,481 | $33,102 |
| New Jersey | $38,460 | $40,770 | $31,966 | $29,379 |
| New Mexico | $35,020 | $35,070 | $29,780 | $32,295 |
| New York | $43,680 | $43,150 | $35,295 | $32,705 |
| North Carolina | $35,400 | $35,140 | $29,720 | $31,508 |
| North Dakota | $36,470 | $36,690 | $31,484 | $35,391 |
| Ohio | $35,540 | $35,280 | $30,541 | $32,920 |
| Oklahoma | $31,720 | $33,920 | $26,785 | $30,492 |
| Oregon | $43,100 | $44,130 | $33,568 | $32,476 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,580 | $35,750 | $30,398 | $31,154 |
| Rhode Island | $36,510 | $40,290 | $30,362 | $29,685 |
| South Carolina | $35,740 | $35,610 | $30,484 | $32,517 |
| South Dakota | $36,220 | $36,720 | $31,283 | $35,313 |
| Tennessee | $36,420 | $36,530 | $31,443 | $34,226 |
| Texas | $34,760 | $33,370 | $30,110 | $31,023 |
| Utah | $36,490 | $37,340 | $30,604 | $30,956 |
| Vermont | $45,390 | $43,680 | $37,514 | $38,296 |
| Virginia | $36,750 | $38,180 | $30,410 | $30,078 |
| Washington | $46,800 | $47,200 | $39,135 | $36,570 |
| West Virginia | $29,590 | $30,950 | $25,241 | $28,203 |
| Wisconsin | $36,550 | $36,690 | $30,721 | $32,649 |
| Wyoming | $36,830 | $37,950 | $31,773 | $34,278 |