How much does a cook make?
The median cook in the United States earns $35,880 per year, about $17.25 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 35-2015.
Cook salary range
Pay for cooks spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $23,440 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $46,460. The average (mean) wage of $36,120 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 | $23,440 | $11.27 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $30,610 | $14.71 | |
| Median (50th) | $35,880 | $17.25 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $42,450 | $20.41 | |
| 90th percentile | $46,460 | $22.34 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for cooks, short order (SOC 35-2015), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Cook salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Cooks earn the most in Arizona at $46,630 a year, and the least in Pennsylvania at $19,910. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 | 1,880 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 | N/A |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 | 4,760 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 | 460 |
| California | $42,930 | 30,740 |
| Washington | $42,760 | 1,700 |
| Colorado | $42,450 | 1,900 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 | N/A |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 | 1,910 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 | 850 |
| Idaho | $40,090 | 120 |
| Vermont | $38,830 | 670 |
| Oregon | $38,550 | 1,780 |
| Delaware | $38,500 | N/A |
| Missouri | $38,490 | N/A |
| Utah | $38,010 | 320 |
| Alaska | $37,780 | 330 |
| Nevada | $37,780 | 790 |
| Illinois | $37,440 | 2,630 |
| New Mexico | $37,150 | 750 |
| Maryland | $36,800 | 3,250 |
| New York | $35,550 | 18,300 |
| Maine | $35,360 | 1,120 |
| Oklahoma | $35,130 | 760 |
| Michigan | $34,510 | 2,560 |
| Florida | $34,240 | 5,050 |
| Iowa | $34,090 | 1,160 |
| Montana | $33,240 | N/A |
| South Dakota | $32,380 | 2,000 |
| New Hampshire | $32,330 | 2,320 |
| Minnesota | $32,150 | 870 |
| Kentucky | $31,840 | 650 |
| North Carolina | $31,290 | 3,170 |
| Virginia | $31,200 | 3,350 |
| Nebraska | $30,530 | 1,810 |
| Arkansas | $30,510 | 160 |
| Tennessee | $30,210 | 2,510 |
| South Carolina | $29,640 | 900 |
| Ohio | $29,290 | 6,000 |
| Mississippi | $28,180 | 1,890 |
| Wisconsin | $28,130 | 2,270 |
| West Virginia | $27,440 | 620 |
| Kansas | $27,400 | 640 |
| Georgia | $26,870 | 3,870 |
| Louisiana | $26,260 | 1,990 |
| Texas | $25,320 | 7,540 |
| Alabama | $22,330 | N/A |
| Indiana | $21,940 | 2,940 |
| Pennsylvania | $19,910 | 3,510 |
State median wages for cooks, short order (SOC 35-2015), 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 shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 5.2%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 138,700 jobs in 2025 moving toward 131,500 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 17,400 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 (Arizona, $46,630) and the lowest (Pennsylvania, $19,910) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 138,650 people work as cooks in the United States. At $35,880 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 $17.25. The middle half of cooks earn between $14.71 and $20.41 per hour.
What is the highest cook salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of cooks earn more than $46,460 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 $35,880. The average (mean) wage of $36,120 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 $35,880 a year, a cook earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 138,650 people work as cooks in the United States.
Which state pays cooks the most?
Arizona has the highest median salary for cooks at $46,630 a year. Rhode Island ($46,250) and Massachusetts ($44,290) 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 shrink 5.2% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 17,400 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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