How much does a cook make in Boston?
$48,530a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area. That is $23.33 an hour or $4,044 a month.
- Hourly
- $23.33
- Vs. national median
- +30%
- Rank among cities
- 11 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 5,310
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $39,890Median: $48,530Highest 10%: $59,090
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,890 | $19.18 | |
| 25th | $45,970 | $22.10 | |
| Median | $48,530 | $23.33 | |
| 75th | $54,910 | $26.40 | |
| 90th | $59,090 | $28.41 |
Other cities in Massachusetts
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Barnstable Town, MA | $49,720 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $47,740 |
| Worcester, MA | $46,780 |
| Springfield, MA | $46,440 |
| Providence, RI | $46,350 |
| Amherst Town, MA | $41,470 |
Related jobs in Boston
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $72,470 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $47,090 |
| Cook | $45,830 |
| Cook | $41,600 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,660 |
| Cook | $39,600 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $39,270 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $38,210 |
| Bartender | $37,760 |
| Dishwasher | $37,750 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Boston?
The median hourly pay in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $23.33 ($48,530 a year).
Do cooks make more in Boston than the national average?
Yes: $48,530 against $37,450 nationally, 30% more.
How does Boston compare with the rest of Massachusetts?
The median in Massachusetts is $47,790, so Boston pays 2% more.
Where does Boston rank for cook pay?
11 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% make $39,890 or less a year; the top 10% make $59,090 or more.
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.