How much does a cook make in Salem?
$34,910a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Salem, OR metro area. That is $16.78 an hour or $2,909 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.78
- Vs. national median
- -3%
- Rank among cities
- 90 of 237
- Jobs in the area
- 110
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,960Median: $34,910Highest 10%: $41,950
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,960 | $14.40 | |
| 25th | $31,090 | $14.95 | |
| Median | $34,910 | $16.78 | |
| 75th | $37,980 | $18.26 | |
| 90th | $41,950 | $20.17 |
Other cities in Oregon
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Corvallis, OR | $54,020 |
| Portland, OR | $38,810 |
| Medford, OR | $38,010 |
| Eugene, OR | $35,780 |
| Bend, OR | $34,880 |
Related jobs in Salem
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $63,750 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $48,720 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $45,660 |
| Cook | $44,690 |
| Cook | $39,170 |
| Bartender | $38,410 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $37,300 |
| Host and Hostess | $36,780 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $35,250 |
| Dishwasher | $35,070 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Salem?
The median hourly pay in the Salem, OR metro area is $16.78 ($34,910 a year).
Do cooks make more in Salem than the national average?
No: $34,910 against $35,880 nationally, 3% less.
How does Salem compare with the rest of Oregon?
The median in Oregon is $38,550, so Salem pays 9% less.
Where does Salem rank for cook pay?
90 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,960 or less a year; the top 10% make $41,950 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.