How much does a cook make in Boston?
$45,830a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area. That is $22.03 an hour or $3,819 a month.
- Hourly
- $22.03
- Vs. national median
- +23%
- Rank among cities
- 11 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 22,900
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $36,810Median: $45,830Highest 10%: $58,690
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,810 | $17.70 | |
| 25th | $39,400 | $18.94 | |
| Median | $45,830 | $22.03 | |
| 75th | $49,390 | $23.75 | |
| 90th | $58,690 | $28.22 |
Other cities in Massachusetts
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 |
| Amherst Town, MA | $44,680 |
| Worcester, MA | $44,250 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 |
| Springfield, MA | $39,970 |
| Providence, RI | $37,460 |
Related jobs in Boston
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $72,470 |
| Cook | $48,530 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $47,090 |
| 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 $22.03 ($45,830 a year).
Do cooks make more in Boston than the national average?
Yes: $45,830 against $37,390 nationally, 23% more.
How does Boston compare with the rest of Massachusetts?
The median in Massachusetts is $45,600, so Boston pays 1% 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 $36,810 or less a year; the top 10% make $58,690 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.