How much does a cook make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $17.25 an hour or $2,990 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.25
- Average (mean)
- $36,120
- Jobs
- 138,650
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,440 | $11.27 | |
| 25th | $30,610 | $14.72 | |
| Median | $35,880 | $17.25 | |
| 75th | $42,450 | $20.41 | |
| 90th | $46,460 | $22.34 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
| Idaho | $40,090 |
| Vermont | $38,830 |
| Oregon | $38,550 |
| Delaware | $38,500 |
| Missouri | $38,490 |
| Utah | $38,010 |
| Alaska | $37,780 |
| Nevada | $37,780 |
| Illinois | $37,440 |
| New Mexico | $37,150 |
| Maryland | $36,800 |
| New York | $35,550 |
| Maine | $35,360 |
| Oklahoma | $35,130 |
| Michigan | $34,510 |
| Florida | $34,240 |
| Iowa | $34,090 |
| Montana | $33,240 |
| South Dakota | $32,380 |
| New Hampshire | $32,330 |
| Minnesota | $32,150 |
| Kentucky | $31,840 |
| North Carolina | $31,290 |
| Virginia | $31,200 |
| Nebraska | $30,530 |
| Arkansas | $30,510 |
| Tennessee | $30,210 |
| South Carolina | $29,640 |
| Ohio | $29,290 |
| Mississippi | $28,180 |
| Wisconsin | $28,130 |
| West Virginia | $27,440 |
| Kansas | $27,400 |
| Georgia | $26,870 |
| Louisiana | $26,260 |
| Texas | $25,320 |
| Alabama | $22,330 |
| Indiana | $21,940 |
| Pennsylvania | $19,910 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Corvallis, OR | $54,020 |
| Seattle, WA | $50,870 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $50,180 |
| Kahului, HI | $48,140 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $46,450 |
| San Jose, CA | $45,990 |
| San Francisco, CA | $45,790 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $45,690 |
| Vallejo, CA | $45,360 |
| Waterbury, CT | $44,780 |
| Denver, CO | $44,200 |
| Providence, RI | $44,050 |
| Napa, CA | $43,930 |
| Amherst Town, MA | $43,790 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $43,680 |
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 $17.25 ($35,880 a year).
How much does a cook make a month?
About $2,990 a month before tax, based on a median of $35,880 a year.
How much does a cook make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $23,440 or less a year ($11.27 an hour); the top 10% make $46,460 or more.
Which state pays cooks the most?
Arizona, with a median of $46,630 a year, followed by Rhode Island ($46,250) and Massachusetts ($44,290).
Which city pays cooks the most?
Corvallis, OR, with a median of $54,020 a year.
How many cooks are there in the United States?
About 138,650 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.