How much does a cook make in Washington?
$31,880a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area. That is $15.33 an hour or $2,657 a month.
- Hourly
- $15.33
- Vs. national median
- -15%
- Rank among cities
- 49 of 63
- Jobs in the area
- 380
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $30,340Median: $31,880Highest 10%: $66,200
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,340 | $14.59 | |
| 25th | $31,610 | $15.20 | |
| Median | $31,880 | $15.33 | |
| 75th | $44,050 | $21.18 | |
| 90th | $66,200 | $31.83 |
Other cities in District of Columbia
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| No other city in the state with data. |
Related jobs in Washington
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $74,900 |
| Bartender | $48,030 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $47,580 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $46,040 |
| Cook | $44,880 |
| Cook | $42,920 |
| Cook | $39,650 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $38,590 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $37,630 |
| Food Server | $37,540 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Washington?
The median hourly pay in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $15.33 ($31,880 a year).
Do cooks make more in Washington than the national average?
No: $31,880 against $37,690 nationally, 15% less.
Where does Washington rank for cook pay?
49 of 63 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% make $30,340 or less a year; the top 10% make $66,200 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.