How much does a cook make in Boston?
$41,600a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area. That is $20.00 an hour or $3,467 a month.
- Hourly
- $20.00
- Vs. national median
- +35%
- Rank among cities
- 17 of 308
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $36,400Median: $41,600Highest 10%: $48,850
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,400 | $17.50 | |
| 25th | $37,540 | $18.05 | |
| Median | $41,600 | $20.00 | |
| 75th | $44,290 | $21.29 | |
| 90th | $48,850 | $23.49 |
Other cities in Massachusetts
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Barnstable Town, MA | $39,340 |
| Worcester, MA | $36,770 |
| Springfield, MA | $35,490 |
| Providence, RI | $35,260 |
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 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,660 |
| Cook | $39,600 |
| 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 $20.00 ($41,600 a year).
Do cooks make more in Boston than the national average?
Yes: $41,600 against $30,890 nationally, 35% more.
How does Boston compare with the rest of Massachusetts?
The median in Massachusetts is $37,870, so Boston pays 10% more.
Where does Boston rank for cook pay?
17 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% make $36,400 or less a year; the top 10% make $48,850 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.