How much does a cook make in Trenton?
$38,400a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area. That is $18.46 an hour or $3,200 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.46
- Vs. national median
- +3%
- Rank among cities
- 77 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 1,020
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $32,220Median: $38,400Highest 10%: $48,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,220 | $15.49 | |
| 25th | $36,210 | $17.41 | |
| Median | $38,400 | $18.46 | |
| 75th | $44,490 | $21.39 | |
| 90th | $48,600 | $23.37 |
Other cities in New Jersey
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| New York, NY | $43,740 |
| Atlantic City, NJ | $40,250 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $38,270 |
| Allentown, PA | $37,120 |
| Vineland, NJ | $36,890 |
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 |
| Cook | $42,960 |
| Bartender | $38,800 |
| 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 $18.46 ($38,400 a year).
Do cooks make more in Trenton than the national average?
Yes: $38,400 against $37,390 nationally, 3% more.
How does Trenton compare with the rest of New Jersey?
The median in New Jersey is $38,460, so Trenton pays 0% more.
Where does Trenton rank for cook pay?
77 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Trenton?
The lowest-paid 10% make $32,220 or less a year; the top 10% make $48,600 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.