How much does a cook make in Trenton?
$42,960a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area. That is $20.65 an hour or $3,580 a month.
- Hourly
- $20.65
- Vs. national median
- +15%
- Rank among cities
- 73 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 460
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,930Median: $42,960Highest 10%: $53,650
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,930 | $16.79 | |
| 25th | $37,370 | $17.97 | |
| Median | $42,960 | $20.65 | |
| 75th | $48,680 | $23.40 | |
| 90th | $53,650 | $25.79 |
Other cities in New Jersey
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| New York, NY | $46,870 |
| Vineland, NJ | $45,510 |
| Atlantic City, NJ | $40,240 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $38,870 |
| Allentown, PA | $38,570 |
Related jobs in Trenton
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $70,210 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,850 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $43,350 |
| Bartender | $38,800 |
| Cook | $38,400 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $38,070 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,950 |
| Cook | $35,920 |
| Food Server | $35,740 |
| Dishwasher | $35,360 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Trenton?
The median hourly pay in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area is $20.65 ($42,960 a year).
Do cooks make more in Trenton than the national average?
Yes: $42,960 against $37,450 nationally, 15% more.
How does Trenton compare with the rest of New Jersey?
The median in New Jersey is $44,520, so Trenton pays 4% less.
Where does Trenton rank for cook pay?
73 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Trenton?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,930 or less a year; the top 10% make $53,650 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.