How much does a cook make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $18.00 an hour or $3,121 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.00
- Average (mean)
- $38,810
- Jobs
- 441,050
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,480 | $13.69 | |
| 25th | $32,440 | $15.60 | |
| Median | $37,450 | $18.00 | |
| 75th | $44,800 | $21.54 | |
| 90th | $49,670 | $23.88 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
| New Hampshire | $45,370 |
| New Jersey | $44,520 |
| Oregon | $44,520 |
| Delaware | $44,080 |
| Maine | $43,490 |
| Minnesota | $43,460 |
| Colorado | $42,500 |
| Maryland | $41,380 |
| Arizona | $39,660 |
| North Dakota | $39,490 |
| Nevada | $39,430 |
| Wisconsin | $38,650 |
| Utah | $38,200 |
| Virginia | $37,890 |
| Illinois | $37,440 |
| Montana | $37,150 |
| Wyoming | $36,940 |
| Michigan | $36,870 |
| South Dakota | $36,730 |
| Ohio | $36,720 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,540 |
| New Mexico | $36,470 |
| Nebraska | $36,390 |
| Florida | $36,250 |
| North Carolina | $36,140 |
| Indiana | $35,980 |
| Iowa | $35,810 |
| Idaho | $35,600 |
| Tennessee | $35,570 |
| Texas | $35,360 |
| Georgia | $35,090 |
| South Carolina | $34,960 |
| Missouri | $34,900 |
| Kansas | $31,950 |
| Kentucky | $31,550 |
| Arkansas | $30,240 |
| West Virginia | $29,740 |
| Oklahoma | $29,270 |
| Mississippi | $27,390 |
| Alabama | $27,120 |
| Louisiana | $25,490 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Kahului, HI | $55,400 |
| San Jose, CA | $51,880 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | $51,620 |
| Seattle, WA | $51,530 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $49,720 |
| Fairbanks, AK | $49,340 |
| Bellingham, WA | $49,320 |
| Bremerton, WA | $49,280 |
| San Francisco, CA | $49,140 |
| Olympia, WA | $48,820 |
| Boston, MA | $48,530 |
| Anchorage, AK | $48,290 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $48,210 |
| Napa, CA | $48,060 |
| Boulder, CO | $48,020 |
In other countries
Cook belongs to the international group "Cooks".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $18.00 ($37,450 a year).
How much does a cook make a month?
About $3,121 a month before tax, based on a median of $37,450 a year.
How much does a cook make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $28,480 or less a year ($13.69 an hour); the top 10% make $49,670 or more.
Which state pays cooks the most?
Washington, with a median of $49,670 a year, followed by Alaska ($48,580) and Massachusetts ($47,790).
Which city pays cooks the most?
Kahului-Wailuku, HI, with a median of $55,400 a year.
How many cooks are there in the United States?
About 441,050 people work as cooks.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.