How much does a cook make in Boston?
$39,600a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area. That is $19.04 an hour or $3,300 a month.
- Hourly
- $19.04
- Vs. national median
- +10%
- Rank among cities
- 25 of 237
- Jobs in the area
- 4,460
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $32,550Median: $39,600Highest 10%: $53,780
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,550 | $15.65 | |
| 25th | $33,400 | $16.06 | |
| Median | $39,600 | $19.04 | |
| 75th | $50,950 | $24.50 | |
| 90th | $53,780 | $25.86 |
Other cities in Massachusetts
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Barnstable Town, MA | $45,690 |
| Providence, RI | $44,050 |
| Amherst Town, MA | $43,790 |
| Worcester, MA | $40,780 |
| Springfield, MA | $39,200 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $37,720 |
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 | $45,830 |
| Cook | $41,600 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,660 |
| 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 $19.04 ($39,600 a year).
Do cooks make more in Boston than the national average?
Yes: $39,600 against $35,880 nationally, 10% more.
How does Boston compare with the rest of Massachusetts?
The median in Massachusetts is $44,290, so Boston pays 11% less.
Where does Boston rank for cook pay?
25 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% make $32,550 or less a year; the top 10% make $53,780 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.