How much does a cook make in Washington?
$35,800a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area. That is $17.21 an hour or $2,983 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.21
- Vs. national median
- +16%
- Rank among cities
- 55 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 10,580
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $31,200Median: $35,800Highest 10%: $47,000
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,200 | $15.00 | |
| 25th | $33,520 | $16.12 | |
| Median | $35,800 | $17.21 | |
| 75th | $40,310 | $19.38 | |
| 90th | $47,000 | $22.60 |
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 $17.21 ($35,800 a year).
Do cooks make more in Washington than the national average?
Yes: $35,800 against $30,890 nationally, 16% more.
How does Washington compare with the rest of District of Columbia?
The median in District of Columbia is $44,670, so Washington pays 20% less.
Where does Washington rank for cook pay?
55 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% make $31,200 or less a year; the top 10% make $47,000 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.