Salary Outlook
Restaurant cooks make surprisingly low salaries. The median salary in 2011 was $22,080, while those in the top-10 percentile earned $32,160. The lowest-paid earned approximately $16,800. Head cooks and chefs earned more in a year: The highest-paid took home approximately $74,060 in 2011. And it’s no surprise that the largest paychecks are generated in big cities like Philadelphia, Las Vegas, New York, and San Francisco.
| Job Salary | Year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | $19,710.00 |
| 2004 | $20,120.00 |
| 2006 | $20,910.00 |
| 2008 | $22,640.00 |
| 2010 | $23,140.00 |
Average Restaurant Cook Pay vs. All Social Services Jobs
The salary is somewhat low. Even the highest-paid in the profession earn less than elementary school teachers, maintenance and repair workers, and paralegals. A cook’s salary is comparable to that of a hairdresser and a security guard, however.
| Job Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Elementary School Teacher | $52,840.00 |
| Paralegal | $46,730.00 |
| Maintenance & Repair Worker | $35,030.00 |
| Security Guard | $23,900.00 |
| Hairdresser | $22,570.00 |
| Restaurant Cook | $22,080.00 |
See Complete List of Best Social Services Jobs
Best Paying Cities for Restaurant Cooks
The highest paid in the restaurant cook profession work in the metropolitan areas of Norwich, CT, Philadelphia, PA, and Las Vegas, NV. The San Francisco, CA area also pays well, as does the city of Anchorage, AK.
Norwich, CT
Average Salary: $30,950 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a restaurant cook working in Norwich, CT is $30,950, which is $8,870 more than the average pay in the profession.
Philadelphia, PA
Average Salary: $30,420 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a restaurant cook working in Philadelphia, PA is $30,420, which is $8,340 more than the average pay in the profession.
Las Vegas, NV
Average Salary: $30,130 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a restaurant cook working in Las Vegas, NV is $30,130, which is $8,050 more than the average pay in the profession.
San Francisco, CA
Average Salary: $30,090 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a restaurant cook working in San Francisco, CA is $30,090, which is $8,010 more than the average pay in the profession.
Anchorage, AK
Average Salary: $29,860 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a restaurant cook working in Anchorage, AK is $29,860, which is $7,780 more than the average pay in the profession.
