How much does a cook make?
The median cook in the United States earns $37,450 per year, about $18.01 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all cooks earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 35-2012.
Cook salary range
Pay for cooks spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $28,480 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $49,670. The average (mean) wage of $38,810 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,480 | $13.69 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $32,440 | $15.60 | |
| Median (50th) | $37,450 | $18.01 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $44,800 | $21.54 | |
| 90th percentile | $49,670 | $23.88 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for cooks, institution and cafeteria (SOC 35-2012), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Cook salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Cooks earn the most in Washington at $49,670 a year, and the least in Louisiana at $25,490. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 | 9,780 |
| Alaska | $48,580 | 1,430 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 | 7,430 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 | 1,570 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 | 1,190 |
| California | $46,390 | 31,660 |
| Vermont | $46,370 | 1,330 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 | 4,500 |
| New York | $45,880 | 17,670 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 | 1,500 |
| New Hampshire | $45,370 | 1,720 |
| New Jersey | $44,520 | 7,490 |
| Oregon | $44,520 | 7,150 |
| Delaware | $44,080 | 2,680 |
| Maine | $43,490 | 1,790 |
| Minnesota | $43,460 | 7,890 |
| Colorado | $42,500 | 9,440 |
| Maryland | $41,380 | 3,370 |
| Arizona | $39,660 | 7,170 |
| North Dakota | $39,490 | 1,820 |
| Nevada | $39,430 | 1,650 |
| Wisconsin | $38,650 | 9,890 |
| Utah | $38,200 | 5,610 |
| Virginia | $37,890 | 11,170 |
| Illinois | $37,440 | 22,840 |
| Montana | $37,150 | 2,290 |
| Wyoming | $36,940 | 1,570 |
| Michigan | $36,870 | 13,500 |
| South Dakota | $36,730 | 2,120 |
| Ohio | $36,720 | 23,440 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,540 | 24,490 |
| New Mexico | $36,470 | 3,160 |
| Nebraska | $36,390 | 4,410 |
| Florida | $36,250 | 25,100 |
| North Carolina | $36,140 | 11,170 |
| Indiana | $35,980 | 11,130 |
| Iowa | $35,810 | 8,860 |
| Idaho | $35,600 | 3,650 |
| Tennessee | $35,570 | 10,680 |
| Texas | $35,360 | 24,740 |
| Georgia | $35,090 | 8,220 |
| South Carolina | $34,960 | 7,850 |
| Missouri | $34,900 | 13,130 |
| Kansas | $31,950 | 7,570 |
| Kentucky | $31,550 | 11,540 |
| Arkansas | $30,240 | 6,530 |
| West Virginia | $29,740 | 4,420 |
| Oklahoma | $29,270 | 10,790 |
| Mississippi | $27,390 | 6,420 |
| Alabama | $27,120 | 8,780 |
| Louisiana | $25,490 | 5,740 |
State median wages for cooks, institution and cafeteria (SOC 35-2012), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for cooks
The BLS projects employment of cooks to grow 2.8% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 454,000 jobs in 2025 moving toward 466,600 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 62,900 openings a year for cooks. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a cook
The typical entry-level education for cooks is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a cook earns
Employer, region, seniority, and in many cases tips shape take-home pay. Fine dining, large venues, and high cost cities lift the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $49,670) and the lowest (Louisiana, $25,490) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 441,050 people work as cooks in the United States. At $37,450 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Cook salary FAQ
How much does a cook make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a cook is $18.01. The middle half of cooks earn between $15.60 and $21.54 per hour.
What is the highest cook salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of cooks earn more than $49,670 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a cook make a year?
The median annual salary for a cook is $37,450. The average (mean) wage of $38,810 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a cook a well paid job?
At $37,450 a year, a cook earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 441,050 people work as cooks in the United States.
Which state pays cooks the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for cooks at $49,670 a year. Alaska ($48,580) and Massachusetts ($47,790) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a cook a good career?
Employment of cooks is projected to grow 2.8% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 62,900 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a cook?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for cooks as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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