391 metro areas
Cook, Restaurant Salary by City (2026)
Cooks earn the most in Kahului, HI, an average of $54,450 a year, against $38,730 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in Kahului, HI ($49,770 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.
- US average (mean)
- $38,730BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Highest-paying city
- $54,450Kahului, HI
- Best after cost of living
- $49,770Kahului, HI
- Metro areas
- 391With their own estimate
Top cities
Highest-paying cities for cooks
Top 10 metro areas
- Kahului, HI$54,450
- San Jose, CA$49,400
- Seattle, WA$49,000
- San Francisco, CA$48,630
- Napa, CA$47,820
- Barnstable Town, MA$46,840
- Portland, ME$46,680
- Bremerton, WA$46,510
- Santa Rosa, CA$46,470
- Mount Vernon, WA$46,240
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $54,450 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $49,400 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $49,000 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $48,630 |
| Napa, CA | $47,820 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $46,840 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $46,680 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $46,510 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $46,470 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $46,240 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Mean wage ÷ BEA price level
- Kahului, HI$54,450 nominal$49,770
- Barnstable Town, MA$46,840 nominal$47,630
- Lewiston, ME$44,450 nominal$46,920
- Portland, ME$46,680 nominal$45,830
- Yakima, WA$43,470 nominal$45,500
- Pittsfield, MA$43,120 nominal$45,340
- Mount Vernon, WA$46,240 nominal$45,140
- San Jose, CA$49,400 nominal$44,740
- Kennewick, WA$44,760 nominal$44,720
- Longview, WA$43,370 nominal$44,460
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $49,770 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $47,630 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $46,920 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $45,830 |
| Yakima, WA | $45,500 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $45,340 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $45,140 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $44,740 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $44,720 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $44,460 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024
Every city
Cook, Restaurant salary in every metro area
Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.
| # | Metro area | Mean | Entry (Level I) | Experienced (Level IV) | At US prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $54,450 | $41,410 | $60,880 | $49,770 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $49,400 | $40,440 | $53,810 | $44,740 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $49,000 | $42,370 | $52,270 | $44,090 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $48,630 | $42,520 | $51,650 | $42,060 |
| 5 | Napa, CA | $47,820 | $40,500 | $51,440 | $42,490 |
| 6 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,840 | $37,790 | $51,270 | $47,630 |
| 7 | Portland, ME | $46,680 | $40,040 | $49,940 | $45,830 |
| 8 | Bremerton, WA | $46,510 | $38,850 | $50,290 | $44,040 |
| 9 | Santa Rosa, CA | $46,470 | $39,620 | $49,860 | $43,110 |
| 10 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,240 | $38,650 | $49,980 | $45,140 |
| 11 | Portland, OR-WA | $46,240 | $37,520 | $50,520 | $43,860 |
| 12 | Boston, MA-NH | $45,880 | $37,540 | $49,980 | $42,380 |
| 13 | San Diego, CA | $45,760 | $39,250 | $48,980 | $40,900 |
| 14 | Bellingham, WA | $45,550 | $38,020 | $49,250 | $44,080 |
| 15 | Salinas, CA | $45,300 | $37,610 | $49,110 | $41,540 |
| 16 | Bend, OR | $44,800 | $37,110 | $48,590 | $43,240 |
| 17 | Kennewick, WA | $44,760 | $37,400 | $48,400 | $44,720 |
| 18 | Los Angeles, CA | $44,760 | $37,750 | $48,210 | $39,410 |
| 19 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $44,620 | $34,090 | $49,820 | $40,210 |
| 20 | Lewiston, ME | $44,450 | $38,540 | $47,380 | $46,920 |
| 21 | Olympia, WA | $44,430 | $37,110 | $48,050 | $42,860 |
| 22 | Burlington, VT | $44,280 | $34,820 | $48,940 | $43,860 |
| 23 | Wenatchee, WA | $44,220 | $37,730 | $47,420 | $42,580 |
| 24 | Vallejo, CA | $44,200 | $38,170 | $47,170 | $40,750 |
| 25 | Santa Cruz, CA | $44,100 | $37,340 | $47,400 | $40,130 |
| 26 | Amherst Town, MA | $44,050 | $36,170 | $47,960 | $43,940 |
| 27 | Worcester, MA | $43,950 | $36,440 | $47,670 | $42,870 |
| 28 | Santa Maria, CA | $43,580 | $36,980 | $46,820 | $40,060 |
| 29 | Spokane, WA | $43,580 | $36,840 | $46,900 | $43,430 |
| 30 | Denver, CO | $43,560 | $36,710 | $46,900 | $41,180 |
| 31 | Yakima, WA | $43,470 | $36,520 | $46,880 | $45,500 |
| 32 | Bridgeport, CT | $43,410 | $36,750 | $46,680 | $40,620 |
| 33 | Longview, WA | $43,370 | $35,860 | $47,070 | $44,460 |
| 34 | Sacramento, CA | $43,220 | $37,150 | $46,200 | $40,520 |
| 35 | New York, NY-NJ | $43,200 | $34,800 | $47,320 | $38,380 |
| 36 | Walla Walla, WA | $43,180 | $36,280 | $46,570 | $43,830 |
| 37 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,120 | $35,380 | $46,900 | $45,340 |
| 38 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $43,010 | $37,130 | $45,930 | $39,610 |
| 39 | Boulder, CO | $42,970 | $35,550 | $46,630 | $40,850 |
| 40 | Kiryas Joel, NY | $42,850 | $36,000 | $46,240 | $39,160 |
| 41 | Naples, FL | $42,790 | $36,300 | $45,990 | $41,460 |
| 42 | Riverside, CA | $42,740 | $36,750 | $45,700 | $40,150 |
| 43 | Atlantic City, NJ | $42,700 | $35,090 | $46,430 | $43,190 |
| 44 | Las Vegas, NV | $42,640 | $33,340 | $47,220 | $42,550 |
| 45 | Grants Pass, OR | $42,620 | $35,280 | $46,220 | $43,600 |
| 46 | Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $42,600 | $35,240 | $46,220 | $39,120 |
| 47 | Oxnard, CA | $42,560 | $37,090 | $45,240 | $38,500 |
| 48 | Springfield, MA | $42,540 | $35,780 | $45,860 | $44,280 |
| 49 | Stockton, CA | $42,430 | $36,770 | $45,220 | $40,380 |
| 50 | Kingston, NY | $42,220 | $35,400 | $45,590 | $41,920 |
| 51 | Modesto, CA | $42,220 | $36,900 | $44,840 | $40,550 |
| 52 | Bangor, ME | $42,200 | $37,360 | $44,600 | $43,730 |
| 53 | Bozeman, MT | $42,120 | $34,050 | $46,090 | $41,090 |
| 54 | Fairbanks, AK | $42,080 | $35,400 | $45,390 | $40,770 |
| 55 | Hartford, CT | $41,970 | $36,000 | $44,930 | $40,850 |
| 56 | New Haven, CT | $41,970 | $36,210 | $44,820 | $40,140 |
| 57 | Anchorage, AK | $41,850 | $35,650 | $44,930 | $39,700 |
| 58 | Minneapolis, MN-WI | $41,850 | $35,050 | $45,200 | $39,920 |
| 59 | Yuba City, CA | $41,620 | $36,570 | $44,120 | $39,930 |
| 60 | Salem, OR | $41,520 | $34,440 | $44,990 | $40,060 |
| 61 | Ithaca, NY | $41,370 | $35,360 | $44,320 | $40,040 |
| 62 | Albany, NY | $41,330 | $35,480 | $44,200 | $41,510 |
| 63 | Utica, NY | $41,200 | $35,110 | $44,180 | $44,450 |
| 64 | Medford, OR | $41,180 | $34,960 | $44,240 | $40,600 |
| 65 | Norwich, CT | $41,140 | $35,670 | $43,830 | $40,960 |
| 66 | Glens Falls, NY | $40,960 | $35,090 | $43,850 | $43,180 |
| 67 | Corvallis, OR | $40,930 | $34,510 | $44,120 | $39,350 |
| 68 | Eugene, OR | $40,910 | $35,030 | $43,800 | $40,280 |
| 69 | Merced, CA | $40,910 | $35,880 | $43,390 | $41,630 |
| 70 | Phoenix, AZ | $40,910 | $35,340 | $43,660 | $39,600 |
| 71 | Albany, OR | $40,870 | $34,590 | $43,990 | $40,030 |
| 72 | Fort Collins, CO | $40,830 | $34,920 | $43,740 | $40,370 |
| 73 | Trenton, NJ | $40,790 | $34,400 | $43,930 | $39,530 |
| 74 | Providence, RI-MA | $40,770 | $33,450 | $44,370 | $40,060 |
| 75 | Waterbury, CT | $40,750 | $35,280 | $43,450 | $40,840 |
| 76 | Syracuse, NY | $40,660 | $34,960 | $43,470 | $42,470 |
| 77 | Buffalo, NY | $40,620 | $35,380 | $43,200 | $42,380 |
| 78 | Reno, NV | $40,500 | $32,800 | $44,280 | $40,090 |
| 79 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $40,500 | $32,090 | $44,640 | $42,590 |
| 80 | Chicago, IL-IN | $40,460 | $33,950 | $43,660 | $39,060 |
| 81 | Fresno, CA | $40,460 | $35,690 | $42,810 | $39,610 |
| 82 | Manchester, NH | $40,440 | $33,700 | $43,740 | $38,270 |
| 83 | Redding, CA | $40,390 | $35,320 | $42,890 | $40,120 |
| 84 | Rochester, NY | $40,250 | $34,670 | $42,990 | $41,480 |
| 85 | Hanford, CA | $40,190 | $36,190 | $42,160 | $39,550 |
| 86 | Chico, CA | $40,100 | $35,650 | $42,290 | $39,630 |
| 87 | Flagstaff, AZ | $40,100 | $35,070 | $42,600 | $39,970 |
| 88 | Bakersfield, CA | $40,060 | $35,550 | $42,270 | $39,710 |
| 89 | Colorado Springs, CO | $40,060 | $34,440 | $42,850 | $39,780 |
| 90 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $39,770 | $30,310 | $44,410 | $40,460 |
| 91 | El Centro, CA | $39,770 | $35,360 | $41,930 | $41,790 |
| 92 | Visalia, CA | $39,600 | $35,360 | $41,700 | $39,670 |
| 93 | North Port, FL | $39,480 | $33,470 | $42,450 | $38,550 |
| 94 | Ann Arbor, MI | $39,370 | $33,260 | $42,390 | $39,030 |
| 95 | Orlando, FL | $39,370 | $32,930 | $42,560 | $38,820 |
| 96 | Baltimore, MD | $39,330 | $35,280 | $41,330 | $37,640 |
| 97 | Rochester, MN | $39,310 | $33,240 | $42,310 | $43,280 |
| 98 | Greeley, CO | $39,270 | $33,050 | $42,350 | $39,200 |
| 99 | Carson City, NV | $39,230 | $33,360 | $42,120 | $39,980 |
| 100 | Madison, WI | $39,150 | $31,320 | $43,010 | $40,240 |
| 101 | Cape Coral, FL | $39,080 | $33,400 | $41,870 | $38,180 |
| 102 | Nashville, TN | $39,040 | $31,100 | $42,950 | $40,520 |
| 103 | Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $38,960 | $30,910 | $42,930 | $37,990 |
| 104 | Prescott Valley, AZ | $38,880 | $33,260 | $41,640 | $39,570 |
| 105 | Missoula, MT | $38,830 | $31,430 | $42,450 | $40,260 |
| 106 | Binghamton, NY | $38,770 | $34,240 | $41,000 | $41,750 |
| 107 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $38,670 | $32,160 | $41,870 | $41,790 |
| 108 | Detroit, MI | $38,650 | $32,340 | $41,750 | $38,540 |
| 109 | Billings, MT | $38,600 | $31,410 | $42,140 | $41,270 |
| 110 | Helena, MT | $38,560 | $30,850 | $42,370 | $40,300 |
| 111 | Lexington Park, MD | $38,500 | $34,360 | $40,540 | $38,210 |
| 112 | Pueblo, CO | $38,500 | $33,340 | $41,040 | $41,960 |
| 113 | Vineland, NJ | $38,420 | $32,640 | $41,250 | $40,030 |
| 114 | Omaha, NE-IA | $38,400 | $32,200 | $41,450 | $41,780 |
| 115 | Santa Fe, NM | $38,400 | $32,220 | $41,430 | $38,880 |
| 116 | Crestview, FL | $38,330 | $32,390 | $41,270 | $39,500 |
| 117 | Grand Junction, CO | $38,310 | $33,070 | $40,890 | $40,130 |
| 118 | Miami, FL | $38,290 | $30,510 | $42,140 | $33,540 |
| 119 | Elmira, NY | $38,270 | $33,880 | $40,440 | $40,540 |
| 120 | Tucson, AZ | $38,210 | $33,010 | $40,770 | $39,430 |
| 121 | Salt Lake City, UT | $38,170 | $29,990 | $42,180 | $37,840 |
| 122 | Traverse City, MI | $38,170 | $31,350 | $41,520 | $40,880 |
| 123 | Boise City, ID | $38,110 | $28,480 | $42,850 | $38,730 |
| 124 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $38,040 | $32,450 | $40,790 | $41,970 |
| 125 | Grand Rapids, MI | $37,920 | $32,470 | $40,600 | $39,690 |
| 126 | Charlottesville, VA | $37,900 | $31,570 | $41,020 | $38,230 |
| 127 | Sebastian, FL | $37,860 | $32,470 | $40,500 | $38,510 |
| 128 | Lincoln, NE | $37,840 | $32,160 | $40,620 | $41,320 |
| 129 | Milwaukee, WI | $37,810 | $29,760 | $41,770 | $39,000 |
| 130 | Watertown, NY | $37,810 | $33,490 | $39,960 | $43,120 |
| 131 | Palm Bay, FL | $37,770 | $32,280 | $40,480 | $37,770 |
| 132 | Mankato, MN | $37,710 | $31,370 | $40,830 | $41,460 |
| 133 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $37,690 | $31,820 | $40,580 | $37,600 |
| 134 | Battle Creek, MI | $37,650 | $31,370 | $40,750 | $41,580 |
| 135 | Tampa, FL | $37,560 | $31,200 | $40,680 | $37,230 |
| 136 | Hilton Head Island, SC | $37,520 | $29,310 | $41,580 | $38,280 |
| 137 | Fargo, ND-MN | $37,500 | $30,350 | $41,020 | $41,270 |
| 138 | Jacksonville, FL | $37,420 | $32,030 | $40,060 | $37,610 |
| 139 | Punta Gorda, FL | $37,420 | $31,680 | $40,250 | $37,220 |
| 140 | Springfield, IL | $37,420 | $32,360 | $39,920 | $40,350 |
| 141 | Cleveland, OH | $37,340 | $29,640 | $41,120 | $39,760 |
| 142 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $37,340 | $30,740 | $40,580 | $40,960 |
| 143 | Lake Havasu City, AZ | $37,320 | $32,050 | $39,890 | $39,660 |
| 144 | Charleston, SC | $37,270 | $28,520 | $41,580 | $36,910 |
| 145 | Kalamazoo, MI | $37,230 | $30,910 | $40,330 | $39,260 |
| 146 | Allentown, PA-NJ | $37,170 | $28,660 | $41,370 | $37,180 |
| 147 | Ames, IA | $37,170 | $29,080 | $41,160 | $41,840 |
| 148 | Charlotte, NC-SC | $37,110 | $29,200 | $41,000 | $38,120 |
| 149 | Richmond, VA | $37,110 | $30,580 | $40,310 | $37,920 |
| 150 | Salisbury, MD | $37,090 | $33,090 | $39,060 | $38,790 |
| 151 | Lansing, MI | $37,040 | $30,830 | $40,080 | $38,990 |
| 152 | St. Cloud, MN | $37,040 | $30,530 | $40,250 | $42,270 |
| 153 | Champaign, IL | $37,020 | $32,340 | $39,310 | $39,930 |
| 154 | Duluth, MN-WI | $37,020 | $30,140 | $40,410 | $41,700 |
| 155 | Asheville, NC | $37,000 | $28,890 | $41,000 | $38,340 |
| 156 | Bismarck, ND | $37,000 | $29,790 | $40,580 | $40,650 |
| 157 | Deltona, FL | $37,000 | $32,260 | $39,330 | $37,240 |
| 158 | Des Moines, IA | $36,980 | $29,490 | $40,660 | $40,330 |
| 159 | Wildwood, FL | $36,960 | $31,780 | $39,520 | $43,270 |
| 160 | Columbus, OH | $36,920 | $29,930 | $40,350 | $38,670 |
| 161 | Provo, UT | $36,820 | $29,700 | $40,310 | $37,480 |
| 162 | Decatur, IL | $36,800 | $31,820 | $39,250 | $41,620 |
| 163 | Rapid City, SD | $36,770 | $31,450 | $39,400 | $41,240 |
| 164 | Great Falls, MT | $36,750 | $29,040 | $40,560 | $37,950 |
| 165 | Yuma, AZ | $36,750 | $31,550 | $39,310 | $39,640 |
| 166 | Kenosha, WI | $36,730 | $28,370 | $40,830 | $36,320 |
| 167 | Rockford, IL | $36,730 | $31,840 | $39,150 | $39,860 |
| 168 | Jackson, MI | $36,710 | $30,430 | $39,790 | $40,000 |
| 169 | Niles, MI | $36,710 | $30,640 | $39,710 | $39,740 |
| 170 | Gainesville, FL | $36,690 | $31,470 | $39,270 | $37,930 |
| 171 | Panama City, FL | $36,670 | $31,180 | $39,350 | $37,690 |
| 172 | Cheyenne, WY | $36,630 | $28,770 | $40,520 | $37,960 |
| 173 | Pensacola, FL | $36,630 | $31,220 | $39,290 | $37,490 |
| 174 | Grand Island, NE | $36,610 | $30,800 | $39,460 | $42,250 |
| 175 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $36,590 | $29,700 | $39,980 | $42,220 |
| 176 | Harrisburg, PA | $36,590 | $27,460 | $41,080 | $37,090 |
| 177 | Dover, DE | $36,570 | $31,700 | $38,960 | $37,500 |
| 178 | Virginia Beach, VA-NC | $36,520 | $29,640 | $39,940 | $37,290 |
| 179 | Ogden, UT | $36,500 | $29,290 | $40,060 | $36,370 |
| 180 | Austin, TX | $36,440 | $28,750 | $40,210 | $37,160 |
| 181 | Oklahoma City, OK | $36,440 | $27,160 | $41,020 | $40,310 |
| 182 | Kankakee, IL | $36,420 | $31,450 | $38,880 | $37,780 |
| 183 | Peoria, IL | $36,400 | $31,490 | $38,830 | $39,900 |
| 184 | Raleigh, NC | $36,360 | $28,720 | $40,100 | $37,040 |
| 185 | Minot, ND | $36,320 | $28,950 | $39,940 | $41,730 |
| 186 | Green Bay, WI | $36,280 | $28,040 | $40,330 | $38,970 |
| 187 | Midland, MI | $36,190 | $30,580 | $38,980 | $39,370 |
| 188 | Flint, MI | $36,150 | $29,830 | $39,270 | $38,860 |
| 189 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $36,150 | $28,620 | $39,850 | $41,810 |
| 190 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $36,130 | $30,100 | $39,100 | $41,830 |
| 191 | Saginaw, MI | $36,110 | $30,120 | $39,060 | $39,730 |
| 192 | Durham, NC | $36,050 | $28,450 | $39,790 | $36,950 |
| 193 | Dubuque, IA | $36,000 | $28,890 | $39,500 | $41,220 |
| 194 | Lakeland, FL | $35,960 | $30,260 | $38,770 | $37,020 |
| 195 | Knoxville, TN | $35,940 | $28,290 | $39,690 | $38,830 |
| 196 | Staunton, VA | $35,900 | $29,620 | $38,980 | $39,400 |
| 197 | Oshkosh, WI | $35,880 | $27,850 | $39,830 | $38,610 |
| 198 | Bloomington, IL | $35,860 | $31,470 | $38,020 | $38,340 |
| 199 | Dallas, TX | $35,860 | $28,330 | $39,560 | $34,790 |
| 200 | Monroe, MI | $35,860 | $29,560 | $38,960 | $38,360 |
| 201 | Muskegon, MI | $35,860 | $29,870 | $38,810 | $38,760 |
| 202 | York, PA | $35,860 | $28,080 | $39,690 | $37,350 |
| 203 | La Crosse, WI-MN | $35,820 | $28,410 | $39,480 | $39,030 |
| 204 | Davenport, IA-IL | $35,800 | $29,720 | $38,790 | $40,190 |
| 205 | Atlanta, GA | $35,780 | $27,810 | $39,710 | $35,760 |
| 206 | Iowa City, IA | $35,780 | $28,680 | $39,290 | $39,100 |
| 207 | Casper, WY | $35,760 | $28,230 | $39,480 | $38,110 |
| 208 | Appleton, WI | $35,730 | $27,600 | $39,750 | $38,660 |
| 209 | Idaho Falls, ID | $35,670 | $26,020 | $40,440 | $37,780 |
| 210 | Columbia, MO | $35,650 | $29,470 | $38,710 | $39,860 |
| 211 | Twin Falls, ID | $35,650 | $26,850 | $40,000 | $38,700 |
| 212 | Lebanon, PA | $35,630 | $26,580 | $40,080 | $38,220 |
| 213 | Canton, OH | $35,610 | $28,180 | $39,270 | $39,830 |
| 214 | Harrisonburg, VA | $35,610 | $29,330 | $38,690 | $37,530 |
| 215 | Sebring, FL | $35,610 | $29,410 | $38,690 | $38,510 |
| 216 | Lancaster, PA | $35,590 | $26,540 | $40,060 | $36,220 |
| 217 | Ocala, FL | $35,590 | $29,890 | $38,380 | $37,370 |
| 218 | Indianapolis, IN | $35,550 | $27,520 | $39,500 | $37,150 |
| 219 | Greenville, SC | $35,530 | $27,710 | $39,370 | $38,100 |
| 220 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $35,510 | $27,580 | $39,400 | $38,520 |
| 221 | Savannah, GA | $35,510 | $27,440 | $39,480 | $37,300 |
| 222 | State College, PA | $35,510 | $27,080 | $39,640 | $36,700 |
| 223 | Sierra Vista, AZ | $35,480 | $31,160 | $37,610 | $39,760 |
| 224 | Sheboygan, WI | $35,460 | $27,810 | $39,250 | $37,720 |
| 225 | Albuquerque, NM | $35,440 | $30,060 | $38,080 | $37,090 |
| 226 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $35,440 | $27,730 | $39,250 | $39,840 |
| 227 | Waterloo, IA | $35,440 | $28,410 | $38,920 | $40,710 |
| 228 | Winchester, VA-WV | $35,420 | $29,240 | $38,460 | $36,720 |
| 229 | Racine, WI | $35,380 | $28,180 | $38,920 | $36,870 |
| 230 | Springfield, MO | $35,380 | $29,600 | $38,230 | $39,940 |
| 231 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $35,360 | $27,750 | $39,100 | $37,990 |
| 232 | Janesville, WI | $35,320 | $27,640 | $39,100 | $37,690 |
| 233 | Akron, OH | $35,300 | $28,080 | $38,850 | $37,810 |
| 234 | Logan, UT-ID | $35,260 | $28,430 | $38,630 | $36,760 |
| 235 | St. George, UT | $35,240 | $27,930 | $38,810 | $36,210 |
| 236 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $35,190 | $27,540 | $38,980 | $38,470 |
| 237 | Dayton, OH | $35,190 | $29,330 | $38,080 | $37,960 |
| 238 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $35,170 | $29,620 | $37,900 | $37,630 |
| 239 | Spartanburg, SC | $35,050 | $26,980 | $39,020 | $38,490 |
| 240 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $35,010 | $27,460 | $38,730 | $36,710 |
| 241 | Wausau, WI | $34,990 | $27,350 | $38,730 | $37,770 |
| 242 | Huntsville, AL | $34,960 | $27,930 | $38,440 | $37,560 |
| 243 | Tallahassee, FL | $34,960 | $29,270 | $37,790 | $37,220 |
| 244 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $34,880 | $28,140 | $38,210 | $37,250 |
| 245 | Morristown, TN | $34,860 | $26,790 | $38,830 | $40,360 |
| 246 | Blacksburg, VA | $34,840 | $28,680 | $37,880 | $37,580 |
| 247 | Eau Claire, WI | $34,840 | $27,620 | $38,420 | $37,540 |
| 248 | Toledo, OH | $34,840 | $27,850 | $38,270 | $38,100 |
| 249 | Lynchburg, VA | $34,780 | $28,520 | $37,880 | $38,920 |
| 250 | Lexington, KY | $34,740 | $27,620 | $38,250 | $37,400 |
| 251 | Hagerstown, MD-WV | $34,690 | $28,770 | $37,610 | $36,840 |
| 252 | Jefferson City, MO | $34,630 | $28,970 | $37,420 | $39,360 |
| 253 | Pinehurst, NC | $34,630 | $27,210 | $38,270 | $39,200 |
| 254 | Springfield, OH | $34,610 | $27,850 | $37,960 | $38,250 |
| 255 | Jackson, TN | $34,590 | $26,890 | $38,380 | $40,450 |
| 256 | Columbia, SC | $34,570 | $27,350 | $38,130 | $36,910 |
| 257 | Gettysburg, PA | $34,570 | $26,150 | $38,710 | $36,240 |
| 258 | Lawrence, KS | $34,570 | $27,870 | $37,860 | $38,310 |
| 259 | Reading, PA | $34,570 | $25,380 | $39,100 | $35,620 |
| 260 | Pocatello, ID | $34,530 | $25,580 | $38,940 | $38,840 |
| 261 | Tulsa, OK | $34,530 | $27,190 | $38,150 | $38,700 |
| 262 | Bay City, MI | $34,510 | $29,020 | $37,190 | $37,540 |
| 263 | Fond du Lac, WI | $34,490 | $26,770 | $38,270 | $37,640 |
| 264 | Midland, TX | $34,470 | $26,330 | $38,460 | $35,990 |
| 265 | Sandusky, OH | $34,440 | $27,790 | $37,710 | $38,570 |
| 266 | Roanoke, VA | $34,360 | $28,390 | $37,320 | $36,700 |
| 267 | Wichita, KS | $34,360 | $27,160 | $37,920 | $38,630 |
| 268 | Farmington, NM | $34,320 | $29,020 | $36,920 | $39,130 |
| 269 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $34,240 | $29,290 | $36,670 | $39,780 |
| 270 | Pittsburgh, PA | $34,240 | $25,540 | $38,520 | $36,170 |
| 271 | Kokomo, IN | $34,200 | $27,120 | $37,670 | $38,150 |
| 272 | Joplin, MO-KS | $34,150 | $28,560 | $36,920 | $39,840 |
| 273 | Wilmington, NC | $34,130 | $26,850 | $37,730 | $35,400 |
| 274 | Cleveland, TN | $34,110 | $26,730 | $37,730 | $38,730 |
| 275 | Greensboro, NC | $34,050 | $27,480 | $37,270 | $36,670 |
| 276 | Birmingham, AL | $34,010 | $28,020 | $36,960 | $37,110 |
| 277 | Elkhart, IN | $34,010 | $27,290 | $37,320 | $37,650 |
| 278 | Topeka, KS | $33,820 | $27,410 | $36,960 | $38,080 |
| 279 | Daphne, AL | $33,800 | $27,100 | $37,110 | $35,700 |
| 280 | Kingsport, TN-VA | $33,800 | $26,940 | $37,190 | $39,100 |
| 281 | South Bend, IN-MI | $33,740 | $26,640 | $37,230 | $36,340 |
| 282 | Johnson City, TN | $33,680 | $26,520 | $37,190 | $38,300 |
| 283 | Bloomington, IN | $33,650 | $27,080 | $36,900 | $35,390 |
| 284 | Lima, OH | $33,630 | $27,790 | $36,520 | $37,500 |
| 285 | Winston, NC | $33,630 | $27,080 | $36,860 | $36,540 |
| 286 | Gainesville, GA | $33,570 | $25,920 | $37,340 | $34,690 |
| 287 | Scranton, PA | $33,550 | $24,790 | $37,880 | $35,860 |
| 288 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $33,530 | $25,630 | $37,400 | $36,870 |
| 289 | Fayetteville, AR | $33,450 | $28,580 | $35,860 | $36,620 |
| 290 | Youngstown, OH | $33,450 | $27,500 | $36,380 | $38,270 |
| 291 | Florence, SC | $33,340 | $25,480 | $37,210 | $38,420 |
| 292 | Burlington, NC | $33,300 | $27,230 | $36,300 | $35,730 |
| 293 | Lafayette, IN | $33,300 | $26,540 | $36,630 | $35,640 |
| 294 | Mobile, AL | $33,280 | $26,690 | $36,520 | $37,780 |
| 295 | Evansville, IN | $33,220 | $26,520 | $36,500 | $36,290 |
| 296 | Odessa, TX | $33,220 | $25,810 | $36,860 | $35,380 |
| 297 | Fort Wayne, IN | $33,180 | $26,560 | $36,440 | $35,840 |
| 298 | Greenville, NC | $33,130 | $26,960 | $36,170 | $37,480 |
| 299 | Decatur, AL | $33,090 | $26,210 | $36,480 | $37,940 |
| 300 | Brunswick, GA | $33,070 | $25,830 | $36,630 | $37,700 |
| 301 | Manhattan, KS | $33,050 | $26,620 | $36,190 | $36,660 |
| 302 | Mansfield, OH | $33,010 | $27,230 | $35,860 | $37,140 |
| 303 | Montgomery, AL | $32,990 | $26,500 | $36,190 | $36,790 |
| 304 | New Orleans, LA | $32,990 | $24,920 | $36,960 | $35,630 |
| 305 | Houston, TX | $32,970 | $25,540 | $36,630 | $33,430 |
| 306 | San Antonio, TX | $32,970 | $25,920 | $36,460 | $34,810 |
| 307 | Chambersburg, PA | $32,880 | $24,590 | $36,960 | $34,740 |
| 308 | Hickory, NC | $32,880 | $26,750 | $35,900 | $37,160 |
| 309 | Sumter, SC | $32,880 | $26,190 | $36,170 | $37,360 |
| 310 | Michigan City, IN | $32,800 | $25,810 | $36,250 | $35,780 |
| 311 | Las Cruces, NM | $32,760 | $28,180 | $35,030 | $36,310 |
| 312 | Fayetteville, NC | $32,640 | $26,600 | $35,610 | $35,490 |
| 313 | Columbus, IN | $32,610 | $26,290 | $35,710 | $35,060 |
| 314 | Athens, GA | $32,530 | $25,670 | $35,900 | $34,850 |
| 315 | Williamsport, PA | $32,530 | $25,230 | $36,110 | $35,220 |
| 316 | Bowling Green, KY | $32,510 | $26,190 | $35,630 | $36,050 |
| 317 | Paducah, KY-IL | $32,510 | $26,640 | $35,400 | $37,770 |
| 318 | Augusta, GA-SC | $32,450 | $25,020 | $36,090 | $35,310 |
| 319 | Warner Robins, GA | $32,410 | $25,230 | $35,940 | $34,560 |
| 320 | Altoona, PA | $32,360 | $24,560 | $36,210 | $36,150 |
| 321 | Erie, PA | $32,340 | $24,860 | $36,030 | $35,560 |
| 322 | Owensboro, KY | $32,240 | $26,230 | $35,190 | $36,380 |
| 323 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $32,240 | $26,210 | $35,210 | $36,750 |
| 324 | Sherman, TX | $32,220 | $24,710 | $35,920 | $34,360 |
| 325 | Little Rock, AR | $32,160 | $27,350 | $34,530 | $35,990 |
| 326 | Goldsboro, NC | $32,070 | $26,190 | $34,990 | $36,250 |
| 327 | Rome, GA | $32,030 | $24,900 | $35,550 | $35,530 |
| 328 | Auburn, AL | $32,010 | $25,830 | $35,070 | $36,400 |
| 329 | Jonesboro, AR | $32,010 | $27,060 | $34,440 | $37,270 |
| 330 | Macon, GA | $31,970 | $25,400 | $35,210 | $36,110 |
| 331 | College Station, TX | $31,660 | $25,170 | $34,860 | $34,810 |
| 332 | Muncie, IN | $31,620 | $25,960 | $34,400 | $35,870 |
| 333 | Baton Rouge, LA | $31,600 | $23,190 | $35,730 | $34,810 |
| 334 | Rocky Mount, NC | $31,600 | $25,520 | $34,570 | $35,900 |
| 335 | Elizabethtown, KY | $31,570 | $25,360 | $34,630 | $34,860 |
| 336 | Terre Haute, IN | $31,550 | $25,170 | $34,720 | $35,940 |
| 337 | Florence, AL | $31,490 | $24,900 | $34,720 | $37,130 |
| 338 | Weirton, WV-OH | $31,450 | $25,540 | $34,360 | $35,330 |
| 339 | Waco, TX | $31,410 | $24,320 | $34,900 | $33,940 |
| 340 | Beaumont, TX | $31,220 | $24,110 | $34,720 | $34,670 |
| 341 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $31,200 | $25,020 | $34,220 | $35,320 |
| 342 | Corpus Christi, TX | $31,120 | $24,250 | $34,510 | $33,580 |
| 343 | Dothan, AL | $31,120 | $25,060 | $34,090 | $37,120 |
| 344 | Jacksonville, NC | $31,050 | $25,250 | $33,900 | $33,720 |
| 345 | Gulfport, MS | $31,030 | $25,230 | $33,900 | $34,480 |
| 346 | Johnstown, PA | $30,990 | $23,500 | $34,690 | $36,060 |
| 347 | Lawton, OK | $30,990 | $24,090 | $34,380 | $36,060 |
| 348 | Dalton, GA | $30,930 | $23,650 | $34,510 | $34,430 |
| 349 | Anniston, AL | $30,910 | $24,920 | $33,860 | $35,960 |
| 350 | Amarillo, TX | $30,890 | $24,040 | $34,260 | $33,640 |
| 351 | Columbus, GA-AL | $30,890 | $24,190 | $34,170 | $34,590 |
| 352 | Abilene, TX | $30,720 | $24,170 | $33,950 | $34,000 |
| 353 | Albany, GA | $30,700 | $24,190 | $33,900 | $35,020 |
| 354 | Killeen, TX | $30,660 | $23,650 | $34,110 | $33,640 |
| 355 | Tyler, TX | $30,640 | $23,900 | $33,970 | $33,250 |
| 356 | Huntington, WV-KY-OH | $30,580 | $24,340 | $33,630 | $34,580 |
| 357 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $30,510 | $25,750 | $32,840 | $35,520 |
| 358 | Longview, TX | $30,510 | $24,040 | $33,700 | $34,100 |
| 359 | Hot Springs, AR | $30,450 | $26,040 | $32,640 | $35,520 |
| 360 | Lubbock, TX | $30,430 | $23,730 | $33,720 | $33,320 |
| 361 | San Angelo, TX | $30,410 | $23,000 | $34,070 | $32,890 |
| 362 | Lake Charles, LA | $30,280 | $23,770 | $33,490 | $35,270 |
| 363 | Morgantown, WV | $30,280 | $24,420 | $33,180 | $32,450 |
| 364 | Slidell, LA | $30,280 | $22,590 | $34,070 | $32,660 |
| 365 | Wichita Falls, TX | $30,010 | $23,250 | $33,340 | $33,530 |
| 366 | Valdosta, GA | $29,930 | $23,250 | $33,240 | $33,910 |
| 367 | Victoria, TX | $29,760 | $23,050 | $33,070 | $33,130 |
| 368 | Charleston, WV | $29,720 | $23,250 | $32,930 | $33,500 |
| 369 | Enid, OK | $29,720 | $23,340 | $32,860 | $35,270 |
| 370 | Shreveport, LA | $29,660 | $22,400 | $33,220 | $34,990 |
| 371 | Beckley, WV | $29,580 | $23,940 | $32,340 | $33,470 |
| 372 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $29,390 | $23,550 | $32,260 | $34,980 |
| 373 | Hattiesburg, MS | $29,350 | $23,770 | $32,090 | $33,490 |
| 374 | Gadsden, AL | $29,330 | $23,920 | $32,010 | $34,240 |
| 375 | Parkersburg, WV | $29,240 | $22,840 | $32,410 | $33,580 |
| 376 | Jackson, MS | $29,000 | $22,590 | $32,160 | $32,570 |
| 377 | El Paso, TX | $28,970 | $22,760 | $32,030 | $32,220 |
| 378 | Lafayette, LA | $28,720 | $21,570 | $32,260 | $32,930 |
| 379 | Hammond, LA | $28,640 | $21,550 | $32,140 | $33,910 |
| 380 | Houma, LA | $28,540 | $21,110 | $32,200 | $33,540 |
| 381 | Brownsville, TX | $28,230 | $21,740 | $31,430 | $32,840 |
| 382 | McAllen, TX | $28,020 | $21,300 | $31,320 | $32,620 |
| 383 | Alexandria, LA | $27,790 | $21,380 | $30,930 | $32,430 |
| 384 | Laredo, TX | $27,710 | $20,970 | $31,030 | $31,870 |
| 385 | Monroe, LA | $27,640 | $20,900 | $30,970 | $33,060 |
| 386 | San Juan, PR | $26,710 | $22,590 | $28,750 | N/A |
| 387 | Arecibo, PR | $25,460 | $22,030 | $27,140 | N/A |
| 388 | Aguadilla, PR | $25,210 | $21,860 | $26,830 | N/A |
| 389 | Guayama, PR | $25,190 | $21,900 | $26,810 | N/A |
| 390 | Ponce, PR | $25,110 | $22,130 | $26,580 | N/A |
| 391 | Mayaguez, PR | $24,540 | $21,840 | $25,900 | N/A |
More
More on cooks
Method
About these numbers
- Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
- Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
- OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
- At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.
Questions
Cook, Restaurant salary by city: FAQ
Which city pays cooks the most?
Kahului, HI, where the average (mean) wage is $54,450 a year, followed by San Jose, CA ($49,400), Seattle, WA ($49,000), San Francisco, CA ($48,630). The national mean is $38,730 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Where do cooks earn the most after cost of living?
Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in Kahului, HI ($49,770 at national prices, $54,450 nominal), Barnstable Town, MA ($47,630 at national prices, $46,840 nominal), Lewiston, ME ($46,920 at national prices, $44,450 nominal).
How much do cooks make in the biggest cities?
New York, NY-NJ: $43,200; Los Angeles, CA: $44,760; Chicago, IL-IN: $40,460; Dallas, TX: $35,860; Houston, TX: $32,970 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).
Where do cooks earn the least?
Of the 391 metro areas with their own estimate, Mayaguez, PR has the lowest mean wage, $24,540.