35 Series · SOC 35-2014
Cooks, Restaurant Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $37,390
- Median / year
- $47,900
- Top 10% earn
- +14.9%
- Growth '23–'33
- 1,409,890
- US workers
Cooks, Restaurant earn a median of $37,390 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $37,390, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $28,700 (10th percentile) to $47,900 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 1,409,890 US workers. Washington pays the most ($46,800), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Cooks, Restaurant earn a median of $37,390, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 7% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Food Preparation and Serving Related, it ranks #6 of 17 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 14.9% by 2033.
- $37,390
- Median annual wage
- Top 93%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #6 of 17
- in Food Preparation and Serving Related
- 1.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Washington at $46,800. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Cooks, Restaurant (SOC 35-2014) pays a national median of $37,390 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $28,700 at the 10th percentile to $47,900 at the 90th, with a mean of $38,730 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 1,409,890 Americans work in this occupation across 54 reporting states and 526 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +14.9% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as much faster than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 250,700 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential, with less than 5 years of prior experience generally required and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 1 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Washington pays the highest state median at $46,800, which is +25% above the national figure. The top metro is Kahului-Wailuku, HI at $49,560 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 1,409,890 jobs Median $37,390/yr
Median Salary
$37,390
per year
Median Hourly
$17.98/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$38,730
average
Employment
1,409,890
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Cooks, Restaurant pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$37,390 Bottom 7% higher than 7% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 35-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Cooks, Restaurant; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 17 35-series occupations with growth data, Cooks, Restaurant sits on the faster-growing side at +14.9% growth and $37,390 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+14.9%
Much faster than average
Annual Openings
250,700
per year (projected)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
Work Experience
Less than 5 years
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → B
Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
1/100K
Injury Rate
3.5/100
Danger Index
14.5/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Cooks, Restaurant roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Speaking 3.0
Critical Thinking 3.0
Monitoring 3.0
Time Management 3.0
Active Listening 2.9
Reading Comprehension 2.8
Active Learning 2.8
Coordination 2.6
Judgment and Decision Making 2.6
Social Perceptiveness 2.5
Knowledge Areas
Food Production 3.4
English Language 3.1
Customer and Personal Service 2.6
Production and Processing 2.3
Education and Training 2.2
Mathematics 2.1
Administration and Management 2.1
Sales and Marketing 1.9
Mechanical 1.8
Chemistry 1.7
Key Tasks
- ▸ Ensure food is stored and cooked at correct temperature by regulating temperature of ovens, broilers, grills, and roasters.
- ▸ Inspect and clean food preparation areas, such as equipment, work surfaces, and serving areas, to ensure safe and sanitary food-handling practices.
- ▸ Portion, arrange, and garnish food, and serve food to waiters or patrons.
- ▸ Ensure freshness of food and ingredients by checking for quality, keeping track of old and new items, and rotating stock.
- ▸ Season and cook food according to recipes or personal judgment and experience.
- ▸ Coordinate and supervise work of kitchen staff.
- ▸ Bake, roast, broil, and steam meats, fish, vegetables, and other foods.
- ▸ Weigh, measure, and mix ingredients according to recipes or personal judgment, using various kitchen utensils and equipment.
- ▸ Turn or stir foods to ensure even cooking.
- ▸ Observe and test foods to determine if they have been cooked sufficiently, using methods such as tasting, smelling, or piercing them with utensils.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$28,700
25th Percentile
$34,010
Median
$37,390
75th Percentile
$44,620
90th Percentile
$47,900
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 54 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $46,800 | +25% above national |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $46,130 | +23% above national |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $45,600 | +22% above national |
| 4 | Hawaii | $45,420 | +21% above national |
| 5 | Vermont | $45,390 | +21% above national |
| 6 | Maine | $45,290 | +21% above national |
| 7 | California | $44,880 | +20% above national |
| 8 | New York | $43,680 | +17% above national |
| 9 | Oregon | $43,100 | +15% above national |
| 10 | Colorado | $41,600 | +11% above national |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $40,200 | +8% above national |
| 12 | Alaska | $40,140 | +7% above national |
| 13 | Connecticut | $39,480 | +6% above national |
| 14 | Arizona | $38,670 | +3% above national |
| 15 | Nevada | $38,610 | +3% above national |
| 16 | Minnesota | $38,590 | +3% above national |
| 17 | New Jersey | $38,460 | +3% above national |
| 18 | Montana | $38,060 | +2% above national |
| 19 | Delaware | $37,840 | +1% above national |
| 20 | Maryland | $37,820 | +1% above national |
| 21 | Illinois | $37,580 | +1% above national |
| 22 | Virgin Islands | $37,430 | same as national |
| 23 | Nebraska | $37,030 | 1% below national |
| 24 | Florida | $37,020 | 1% below national |
| 25 | Michigan | $36,980 | 1% below national |
| 26 | Missouri | $36,940 | 1% below national |
| 27 | Wyoming | $36,830 | 1% below national |
| 28 | Virginia | $36,750 | 2% below national |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $36,580 | 2% below national |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $36,550 | 2% below national |
| 31 | Rhode Island | $36,510 | 2% below national |
| 32 | Utah | $36,490 | 2% below national |
| 33 | North Dakota | $36,470 | 2% below national |
| 34 | Idaho | $36,440 | 3% below national |
| 35 | Tennessee | $36,420 | 3% below national |
| 36 | South Dakota | $36,220 | 3% below national |
| 37 | Georgia | $35,940 | 4% below national |
| 38 | South Carolina | $35,740 | 4% below national |
| 39 | Iowa | $35,670 | 5% below national |
| 40 | Ohio | $35,540 | 5% below national |
| 41 | North Carolina | $35,400 | 5% below national |
| 42 | Indiana | $35,170 | 6% below national |
| 43 | Kansas | $35,130 | 6% below national |
| 44 | New Mexico | $35,020 | 6% below national |
| 45 | Texas | $34,760 | 7% below national |
| 46 | Kentucky | $34,640 | 7% below national |
| 47 | Alabama | $32,180 | 14% below national |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $31,720 | 15% below national |
| 49 | Arkansas | $30,180 | 19% below national |
| 50 | West Virginia | $29,590 | 21% below national |
| 51 | Mississippi | $29,560 | 21% below national |
| 52 | Louisiana | $29,050 | 22% below national |
| 53 | Puerto Rico | $24,650 | 34% below national |
| 54 | Guam | $22,950 | 39% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 526 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $49,560 | +33% above national |
| 2 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $47,730 | +28% above national |
| 3 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $47,480 | +27% above national |
| 4 | Napa, CA | $47,320 | +27% above national |
| 5 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $47,170 | +26% above national |
| 6 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $47,060 | +26% above national |
| 7 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | +26% above national |
| 8 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $46,560 | +25% above national |
| 9 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $46,460 | +24% above national |
| 10 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $46,450 | +24% above national |
| 11 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $46,440 | +24% above national |
| 12 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $46,030 | +23% above national |
| 13 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $45,990 | +23% above national |
| 14 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $45,830 | +23% above national |
| 15 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $45,720 | +22% above national |
| 16 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $45,390 | +21% above national |
| 17 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | +21% above national |
| 18 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $45,280 | +21% above national |
| 19 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $45,250 | +21% above national |
| 20 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $45,200 | +21% above national |
| 21 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $45,120 | +21% above national |
| 22 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $44,980 | +20% above national |
| 23 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $44,960 | +20% above national |
| 24 | Salinas, CA | $44,930 | +20% above national |
| 25 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $44,870 | +20% above national |
| 26 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $44,850 | +20% above national |
| 27 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $44,680 | +19% above national |
| 28 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $44,560 | +19% above national |
| 29 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $44,550 | +19% above national |
| 30 | Bend, OR | $44,540 | +19% above national |
| 31 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $44,530 | +19% above national |
| 32 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $44,510 | +19% above national |
| 33 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $44,460 | +19% above national |
| 34 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | +19% above national |
| 35 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $44,370 | +19% above national |
| 36 | Worcester, MA | $44,250 | +18% above national |
| 37 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $44,230 | +18% above national |
| 38 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $44,230 | +18% above national |
| 39 | Vallejo, CA | $44,100 | +18% above national |
| 40 | Walla Walla, WA | $44,050 | +18% above national |
| 41 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $44,000 | +18% above national |
| 42 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | +18% above national |
| 43 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $43,750 | +17% above national |
| 44 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $43,740 | +17% above national |
| 45 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $43,680 | +17% above national |
| 46 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $43,630 | +17% above national |
| 47 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $43,400 | +16% above national |
| 48 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $43,340 | +16% above national |
| 49 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $43,220 | +16% above national |
| 50 | Kingston, NY | $43,150 | +15% above national |
| 51 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $43,030 | +15% above national |
| 52 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $42,920 | +15% above national |
| 53 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $42,720 | +14% above national |
| 54 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $42,450 | +14% above national |
| 55 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $42,450 | +14% above national |
| 56 | Bozeman, MT | $42,430 | +13% above national |
| 57 | Boulder, CO | $42,220 | +13% above national |
| 58 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $42,060 | +12% above national |
| 59 | Modesto, CA | $41,910 | +12% above national |
| 60 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $41,220 | +10% above national |
| 61 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $41,170 | +10% above national |
| 62 | Bangor, ME | $40,760 | +9% above national |
| 63 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $40,250 | +8% above national |
| 64 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $40,150 | +7% above national |
| 65 | Anchorage, AK | $40,140 | +7% above national |
| 66 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $40,000 | +7% above national |
| 67 | Springfield, MA | $39,970 | +7% above national |
| 68 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $39,640 | +6% above national |
| 69 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $39,610 | +6% above national |
| 70 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $39,360 | +5% above national |
| 71 | Ithaca, NY | $39,280 | +5% above national |
| 72 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $39,170 | +5% above national |
| 73 | Salem, OR | $39,170 | +5% above national |
| 74 | Yuba City, CA | $39,160 | +5% above national |
| 75 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $39,150 | +5% above national |
| 76 | Grants Pass, OR | $39,110 | +5% above national |
| 77 | New Haven, CT | $39,100 | +5% above national |
| 78 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $38,960 | +4% above national |
| 79 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $38,930 | +4% above national |
| 80 | Reno, NV | $38,930 | +4% above national |
| 81 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $38,830 | +4% above national |
| 82 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $38,810 | +4% above national |
| 83 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $38,800 | +4% above national |
| 84 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $38,800 | +4% above national |
| 85 | Albany, OR | $38,780 | +4% above national |
| 86 | Flagstaff, AZ | $38,760 | +4% above national |
| 87 | Syracuse, NY | $38,740 | +4% above national |
| 88 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $38,740 | +4% above national |
| 89 | Glens Falls, NY | $38,730 | +4% above national |
| 90 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $38,570 | +3% above national |
| 91 | Merced, CA | $38,480 | +3% above national |
| 92 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $38,470 | +3% above national |
| 93 | Madison, WI | $38,440 | +3% above national |
| 94 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $38,440 | +3% above national |
| 95 | Carson City, NV | $38,430 | +3% above national |
| 96 | Medford, OR | $38,430 | +3% above national |
| 97 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $38,430 | +3% above national |
| 98 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $38,400 | +3% above national |
| 99 | Corvallis, OR | $38,380 | +3% above national |
| 100 | Rochester, NY | $38,380 | +3% above national |
| 101 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $38,370 | +3% above national |
| 102 | Ann Arbor, MI | $38,290 | +2% above national |
| 103 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $38,270 | +2% above national |
| 104 | Billings, MT | $38,260 | +2% above national |
| 105 | Fresno, CA | $38,260 | +2% above national |
| 106 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $38,210 | +2% above national |
| 107 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $38,200 | +2% above national |
| 108 | Redding, CA | $38,200 | +2% above national |
| 109 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $38,180 | +2% above national |
| 110 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $38,170 | +2% above national |
| 111 | Rochester, MN | $38,150 | +2% above national |
| 112 | Utica-Rome, NY | $38,150 | +2% above national |
| 113 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $38,140 | +2% above national |
| 114 | Missoula, MT | $38,080 | +2% above national |
| 115 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $38,060 | +2% above national |
| 116 | Helena, MT | $38,030 | +2% above national |
| 117 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $38,010 | +2% above national |
| 118 | Colorado Springs, CO | $38,000 | +2% above national |
| 119 | Chico, CA | $37,980 | +2% above national |
| 120 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $37,970 | +2% above national |
| 121 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $37,960 | +2% above national |
| 122 | Omaha, NE-IA | $37,840 | +1% above national |
| 123 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $37,820 | +1% above national |
| 124 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $37,820 | +1% above national |
| 125 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $37,800 | +1% above national |
| 126 | El Centro, CA | $37,710 | +1% above national |
| 127 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $37,700 | +1% above national |
| 128 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $37,690 | +1% above national |
| 129 | Binghamton, NY | $37,530 | same as national |
| 130 | Tucson, AZ | $37,500 | same as national |
| 131 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $37,490 | same as national |
| 132 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $37,460 | same as national |
| 133 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $37,460 | same as national |
| 134 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $37,440 | same as national |
| 135 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $37,440 | same as national |
| 136 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $37,420 | same as national |
| 137 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $37,410 | same as national |
| 138 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $37,380 | same as national |
| 139 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $37,370 | same as national |
| 140 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $37,360 | same as national |
| 141 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $37,310 | same as national |
| 142 | Lincoln, NE | $37,290 | same as national |
| 143 | Traverse City, MI | $37,270 | same as national |
| 144 | Santa Fe, NM | $37,250 | same as national |
| 145 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $37,240 | same as national |
| 146 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $37,230 | same as national |
| 147 | Boise City, ID | $37,230 | same as national |
| 148 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $37,220 | same as national |
| 149 | Mankato, MN | $37,190 | 1% below national |
| 150 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $37,180 | 1% below national |
| 151 | Lexington Park, MD | $37,170 | 1% below national |
| 152 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $37,120 | 1% below national |
| 153 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $37,100 | 1% below national |
| 154 | Visalia, CA | $37,090 | 1% below national |
| 155 | Richmond, VA | $37,080 | 1% below national |
| 156 | Cleveland, OH | $37,060 | 1% below national |
| 157 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $37,030 | 1% below national |
| 158 | Fargo, ND-MN | $37,020 | 1% below national |
| 159 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $37,010 | 1% below national |
| 160 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $37,010 | 1% below national |
| 161 | Battle Creek, MI | $37,000 | 1% below national |
| 162 | Elmira, NY | $36,970 | 1% below national |
| 163 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $36,970 | 1% below national |
| 164 | Charlottesville, VA | $36,960 | 1% below national |
| 165 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $36,960 | 1% below national |
| 166 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $36,920 | 1% below national |
| 167 | Greeley, CO | $36,900 | 1% below national |
| 168 | Vineland, NJ | $36,890 | 1% below national |
| 169 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $36,830 | 1% below national |
| 170 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $36,820 | 2% below national |
| 171 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $36,810 | 2% below national |
| 172 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $36,800 | 2% below national |
| 173 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,770 | 2% below national |
| 174 | Green Bay, WI | $36,760 | 2% below national |
| 175 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $36,760 | 2% below national |
| 176 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $36,750 | 2% below national |
| 177 | Kenosha, WI | $36,730 | 2% below national |
| 178 | Punta Gorda, FL | $36,730 | 2% below national |
| 179 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $36,720 | 2% below national |
| 180 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $36,710 | 2% below national |
| 181 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $36,700 | 2% below national |
| 182 | Duluth, MN-WI | $36,680 | 2% below national |
| 183 | Jackson, MI | $36,680 | 2% below national |
| 184 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $36,670 | 2% below national |
| 185 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $36,620 | 2% below national |
| 186 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $36,620 | 2% below national |
| 187 | Bismarck, ND | $36,610 | 2% below national |
| 188 | Great Falls, MT | $36,610 | 2% below national |
| 189 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $36,610 | 2% below national |
| 190 | Niles, MI | $36,610 | 2% below national |
| 191 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $36,600 | 2% below national |
| 192 | Asheville, NC | $36,590 | 2% below national |
| 193 | Columbus, OH | $36,590 | 2% below national |
| 194 | Springfield, IL | $36,550 | 2% below national |
| 195 | Midland, MI | $36,540 | 2% below national |
| 196 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $36,540 | 2% below national |
| 197 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $36,540 | 2% below national |
| 198 | Appleton, WI | $36,520 | 2% below national |
| 199 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $36,520 | 2% below national |
| 200 | Knoxville, TN | $36,520 | 2% below national |
| 201 | Grand Island, NE | $36,500 | 2% below national |
| 202 | Lancaster, PA | $36,500 | 2% below national |
| 203 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $36,500 | 2% below national |
| 204 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $36,490 | 2% below national |
| 205 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $36,490 | 2% below national |
| 206 | Decatur, IL | $36,440 | 3% below national |
| 207 | Ogden, UT | $36,430 | 3% below national |
| 208 | Grand Junction, CO | $36,420 | 3% below national |
| 209 | Ames, IA | $36,410 | 3% below national |
| 210 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $36,410 | 3% below national |
| 211 | Minot, ND | $36,390 | 3% below national |
| 212 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $36,350 | 3% below national |
| 213 | Flint, MI | $36,350 | 3% below national |
| 214 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $36,340 | 3% below national |
| 215 | York-Hanover, PA | $36,310 | 3% below national |
| 216 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $36,280 | 3% below national |
| 217 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $36,280 | 3% below national |
| 218 | St. Cloud, MN | $36,270 | 3% below national |
| 219 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $36,270 | 3% below national |
| 220 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $36,260 | 3% below national |
| 221 | Lebanon, PA | $36,250 | 3% below national |
| 222 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $36,230 | 3% below national |
| 223 | Monroe, MI | $36,200 | 3% below national |
| 224 | Rockford, IL | $36,200 | 3% below national |
| 225 | Wausau, WI | $36,180 | 3% below national |
| 226 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $36,170 | 3% below national |
| 227 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $36,170 | 3% below national |
| 228 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $36,140 | 3% below national |
| 229 | Oklahoma City, OK | $36,130 | 3% below national |
| 230 | Pittsburgh, PA | $36,130 | 3% below national |
| 231 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $36,120 | 3% below national |
| 232 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $36,120 | 3% below national |
| 233 | Yuma, AZ | $36,080 | 4% below national |
| 234 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $36,080 | 4% below national |
| 235 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $36,070 | 4% below national |
| 236 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $36,040 | 4% below national |
| 237 | Peoria, IL | $36,040 | 4% below national |
| 238 | Akron, OH | $36,030 | 4% below national |
| 239 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,030 | 4% below national |
| 240 | Reading, PA | $36,020 | 4% below national |
| 241 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $36,010 | 4% below national |
| 242 | Saginaw, MI | $36,000 | 4% below national |
| 243 | State College, PA | $35,990 | 4% below national |
| 244 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $35,970 | 4% below national |
| 245 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $35,970 | 4% below national |
| 246 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $35,950 | 4% below national |
| 247 | Salisbury, MD | $35,940 | 4% below national |
| 248 | Savannah, GA | $35,940 | 4% below national |
| 249 | Harrisonburg, VA | $35,920 | 4% below national |
| 250 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $35,920 | 4% below national |
| 251 | Pueblo, CO | $35,920 | 4% below national |
| 252 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $35,920 | 4% below national |
| 253 | Iowa City, IA | $35,910 | 4% below national |
| 254 | Rapid City, SD | $35,910 | 4% below national |
| 255 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $35,900 | 4% below national |
| 256 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $35,890 | 4% below national |
| 257 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $35,890 | 4% below national |
| 258 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $35,850 | 4% below national |
| 259 | Idaho Falls, ID | $35,830 | 4% below national |
| 260 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $35,810 | 4% below national |
| 261 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $35,800 | 4% below national |
| 262 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $35,800 | 4% below national |
| 263 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $35,800 | 4% below national |
| 264 | Eau Claire, WI | $35,780 | 4% below national |
| 265 | Gainesville, FL | $35,760 | 4% below national |
| 266 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $35,720 | 4% below national |
| 267 | Fond du Lac, WI | $35,720 | 4% below national |
| 268 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $35,720 | 4% below national |
| 269 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $35,720 | 4% below national |
| 270 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $35,700 | 5% below national |
| 271 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $35,690 | 5% below national |
| 272 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $35,690 | 5% below national |
| 273 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $35,680 | 5% below national |
| 274 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $35,680 | 5% below national |
| 275 | Midland, TX | $35,670 | 5% below national |
| 276 | Morristown, TN | $35,670 | 5% below national |
| 277 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $35,650 | 5% below national |
| 278 | Dubuque, IA | $35,610 | 5% below national |
| 279 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $35,610 | 5% below national |
| 280 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $35,600 | 5% below national |
| 281 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $35,600 | 5% below national |
| 282 | St. George, UT | $35,590 | 5% below national |
| 283 | Dover, DE | $35,570 | 5% below national |
| 284 | Kankakee, IL | $35,560 | 5% below national |
| 285 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $35,560 | 5% below national |
| 286 | Toledo, OH | $35,560 | 5% below national |
| 287 | Huntsville, AL | $35,520 | 5% below national |
| 288 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $35,520 | 5% below national |
| 289 | Ocala, FL | $35,500 | 5% below national |
| 290 | Spartanburg, SC | $35,500 | 5% below national |
| 291 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $35,500 | 5% below national |
| 292 | Columbia, SC | $35,490 | 5% below national |
| 293 | Jackson, TN | $35,490 | 5% below national |
| 294 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $35,480 | 5% below national |
| 295 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $35,470 | 5% below national |
| 296 | Bay City, MI | $35,420 | 5% below national |
| 297 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $35,420 | 5% below national |
| 298 | Winchester, VA-WV | $35,390 | 5% below national |
| 299 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $35,380 | 5% below national |
| 300 | Sheboygan, WI | $35,360 | 5% below national |
| 301 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $35,360 | 5% below national |
| 302 | Gettysburg, PA | $35,350 | 5% below national |
| 303 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $35,350 | 5% below national |
| 304 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $35,330 | 6% below national |
| 305 | Bloomington, IL | $35,310 | 6% below national |
| 306 | Gainesville, GA | $35,310 | 6% below national |
| 307 | Cheyenne, WY | $35,300 | 6% below national |
| 308 | Kokomo, IN | $35,300 | 6% below national |
| 309 | Casper, WY | $35,250 | 6% below national |
| 310 | Sandusky, OH | $35,250 | 6% below national |
| 311 | Columbia, MO | $35,240 | 6% below national |
| 312 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $35,220 | 6% below national |
| 313 | Logan, UT-ID | $35,210 | 6% below national |
| 314 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $35,200 | 6% below national |
| 315 | Albuquerque, NM | $35,190 | 6% below national |
| 316 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $35,190 | 6% below national |
| 317 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $35,190 | 6% below national |
| 318 | Lawrence, KS | $35,140 | 6% below national |
| 319 | Springfield, MO | $35,100 | 6% below national |
| 320 | Lynchburg, VA | $35,080 | 6% below national |
| 321 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $35,070 | 6% below national |
| 322 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $35,050 | 6% below national |
| 323 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $35,050 | 6% below national |
| 324 | Cleveland, TN | $35,030 | 6% below national |
| 325 | Twin Falls, ID | $34,940 | 7% below national |
| 326 | Wilmington, NC | $34,940 | 7% below national |
| 327 | Pocatello, ID | $34,920 | 7% below national |
| 328 | Roanoke, VA | $34,920 | 7% below national |
| 329 | Bloomington, IN | $34,910 | 7% below national |
| 330 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $34,910 | 7% below national |
| 331 | Odessa, TX | $34,900 | 7% below national |
| 332 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $34,900 | 7% below national |
| 333 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $34,880 | 7% below national |
| 334 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $34,870 | 7% below national |
| 335 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $34,870 | 7% below national |
| 336 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $34,870 | 7% below national |
| 337 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $34,860 | 7% below national |
| 338 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $34,840 | 7% below national |
| 339 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $34,720 | 7% below national |
| 340 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $34,720 | 7% below national |
| 341 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $34,700 | 7% below national |
| 342 | Jefferson City, MO | $34,670 | 7% below national |
| 343 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $34,650 | 7% below national |
| 344 | Chambersburg, PA | $34,620 | 7% below national |
| 345 | Johnson City, TN | $34,620 | 7% below national |
| 346 | Tallahassee, FL | $34,610 | 7% below national |
| 347 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $34,600 | 7% below national |
| 348 | Winston-Salem, NC | $34,600 | 7% below national |
| 349 | Florence, SC | $34,550 | 8% below national |
| 350 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $34,550 | 8% below national |
| 351 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $34,550 | 8% below national |
| 352 | Farmington, NM | $34,540 | 8% below national |
| 353 | Sebring, FL | $34,530 | 8% below national |
| 354 | Wichita, KS | $34,510 | 8% below national |
| 355 | Fort Wayne, IN | $34,490 | 8% below national |
| 356 | Springfield, OH | $34,490 | 8% below national |
| 357 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $34,480 | 8% below national |
| 358 | Topeka, KS | $34,450 | 8% below national |
| 359 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $34,430 | 8% below national |
| 360 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $34,370 | 8% below national |
| 361 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $34,360 | 8% below national |
| 362 | Birmingham, AL | $34,340 | 8% below national |
| 363 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $34,330 | 8% below national |
| 364 | Evansville, IN | $34,290 | 8% below national |
| 365 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $34,240 | 8% below national |
| 366 | Altoona, PA | $34,210 | 9% below national |
| 367 | Lima, OH | $34,200 | 9% below national |
| 368 | Greenville, NC | $34,130 | 9% below national |
| 369 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $34,060 | 9% below national |
| 370 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $34,060 | 9% below national |
| 371 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $33,990 | 9% below national |
| 372 | Joplin, MO-KS | $33,930 | 9% below national |
| 373 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $33,910 | 9% below national |
| 374 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $33,860 | 9% below national |
| 375 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $33,850 | 9% below national |
| 376 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $33,770 | 10% below national |
| 377 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $33,750 | 10% below national |
| 378 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $33,730 | 10% below national |
| 379 | Rome, GA | $33,620 | 10% below national |
| 380 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $33,600 | 10% below national |
| 381 | Erie, PA | $33,550 | 10% below national |
| 382 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $33,540 | 10% below national |
| 383 | Tulsa, OK | $33,410 | 11% below national |
| 384 | Montgomery, AL | $33,070 | 12% below national |
| 385 | Mobile, AL | $33,030 | 12% below national |
| 386 | Burlington, NC | $32,830 | 12% below national |
| 387 | Fayetteville, NC | $32,720 | 12% below national |
| 388 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $32,630 | 13% below national |
| 389 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $32,430 | 13% below national |
| 390 | Goldsboro, NC | $32,420 | 13% below national |
| 391 | Decatur, AL | $32,410 | 13% below national |
| 392 | Williamsport, PA | $32,340 | 14% below national |
| 393 | Manhattan, KS | $32,280 | 14% below national |
| 394 | Warner Robins, GA | $32,180 | 14% below national |
| 395 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $32,150 | 14% below national |
| 396 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $32,150 | 14% below national |
| 397 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $32,150 | 14% below national |
| 398 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $31,760 | 15% below national |
| 399 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $31,740 | 15% below national |
| 400 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $31,650 | 15% below national |
| 401 | Waco, TX | $31,500 | 16% below national |
| 402 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $31,490 | 16% below national |
| 403 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $31,390 | 16% below national |
| 404 | Sumter, SC | $31,370 | 16% below national |
| 405 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $31,330 | 16% below national |
| 406 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $31,310 | 16% below national |
| 407 | Mansfield, OH | $31,300 | 16% below national |
| 408 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $31,300 | 16% below national |
| 409 | Paducah, KY-IL | $31,200 | 17% below national |
| 410 | Dalton, GA | $31,060 | 17% below national |
| 411 | Bowling Green, KY | $31,040 | 17% below national |
| 412 | Las Cruces, NM | $30,980 | 17% below national |
| 413 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $30,820 | 18% below national |
| 414 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $30,760 | 18% below national |
| 415 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $30,690 | 18% below national |
| 416 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $30,690 | 18% below national |
| 417 | Corpus Christi, TX | $30,670 | 18% below national |
| 418 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $30,590 | 18% below national |
| 419 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $30,580 | 18% below national |
| 420 | Amarillo, TX | $30,560 | 18% below national |
| 421 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $30,560 | 18% below national |
| 422 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $30,520 | 18% below national |
| 423 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $30,520 | 18% below national |
| 424 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $30,510 | 18% below national |
| 425 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $30,490 | 18% below national |
| 426 | Columbus, GA-AL | $30,470 | 19% below national |
| 427 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $30,460 | 19% below national |
| 428 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $30,380 | 19% below national |
| 429 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $30,350 | 19% below national |
| 430 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $30,320 | 19% below national |
| 431 | Tyler, TX | $30,300 | 19% below national |
| 432 | Lubbock, TX | $30,250 | 19% below national |
| 433 | Jonesboro, AR | $30,190 | 19% below national |
| 434 | Abilene, TX | $30,180 | 19% below national |
| 435 | Elizabethtown, KY | $30,120 | 19% below national |
| 436 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $30,090 | 20% below national |
| 437 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $30,060 | 20% below national |
| 438 | Muncie, IN | $30,050 | 20% below national |
| 439 | Johnstown, PA | $30,040 | 20% below national |
| 440 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $30,040 | 20% below national |
| 441 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $30,030 | 20% below national |
| 442 | Owensboro, KY | $30,010 | 20% below national |
| 443 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $30,010 | 20% below national |
| 444 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $30,000 | 20% below national |
| 445 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $29,950 | 20% below national |
| 446 | Longview, TX | $29,930 | 20% below national |
| 447 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $29,920 | 20% below national |
| 448 | Baton Rouge, LA | $29,910 | 20% below national |
| 449 | Valdosta, GA | $29,880 | 20% below national |
| 450 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $29,860 | 20% below national |
| 451 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $29,850 | 20% below national |
| 452 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $29,840 | 20% below national |
| 453 | Terre Haute, IN | $29,830 | 20% below national |
| 454 | San Angelo, TX | $29,800 | 20% below national |
| 455 | Wichita Falls, TX | $29,790 | 20% below national |
| 456 | Columbus, IN | $29,740 | 20% below national |
| 457 | Morgantown, WV | $29,740 | 20% below national |
| 458 | Dothan, AL | $29,710 | 21% below national |
| 459 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $29,710 | 21% below national |
| 460 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $29,710 | 21% below national |
| 461 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $29,700 | 21% below national |
| 462 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $29,700 | 21% below national |
| 463 | Victoria, TX | $29,680 | 21% below national |
| 464 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $29,650 | 21% below national |
| 465 | Jacksonville, NC | $29,580 | 21% below national |
| 466 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $29,570 | 21% below national |
| 467 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,550 | 21% below national |
| 468 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $29,490 | 21% below national |
| 469 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $29,490 | 21% below national |
| 470 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $29,470 | 21% below national |
| 471 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $29,460 | 21% below national |
| 472 | Charleston, WV | $29,450 | 21% below national |
| 473 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $29,440 | 21% below national |
| 474 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $29,370 | 21% below national |
| 475 | Hattiesburg, MS | $29,360 | 21% below national |
| 476 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $29,350 | 22% below national |
| 477 | Enid, OK | $29,340 | 22% below national |
| 478 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $29,320 | 22% below national |
| 479 | Hot Springs, AR | $29,260 | 22% below national |
| 480 | Jackson, MS | $29,260 | 22% below national |
| 481 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $29,220 | 22% below national |
| 482 | Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $29,180 | 22% below national |
| 483 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $29,160 | 22% below national |
| 484 | Albany, GA | $29,150 | 22% below national |
| 485 | Rocky Mount, NC | $29,070 | 22% below national |
| 486 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $29,050 | 22% below national |
| 487 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $29,050 | 22% below national |
| 488 | El Paso, TX | $28,990 | 22% below national |
| 489 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $28,990 | 22% below national |
| 490 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $28,930 | 23% below national |
| 491 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $28,880 | 23% below national |
| 492 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $28,830 | 23% below national |
| 493 | Lawton, OK | $28,800 | 23% below national |
| 494 | Gadsden, AL | $28,790 | 23% below national |
| 495 | Beckley, WV | $28,770 | 23% below national |
| 496 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $28,750 | 23% below national |
| 497 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $28,680 | 23% below national |
| 498 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $28,670 | 23% below national |
| 499 | Lake Charles, LA | $28,550 | 24% below national |
| 500 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $28,500 | 24% below national |
| 501 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $28,470 | 24% below national |
| 502 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $28,440 | 24% below national |
| 503 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $28,410 | 24% below national |
| 504 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $28,380 | 24% below national |
| 505 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $28,270 | 24% below national |
| 506 | Laredo, TX | $28,120 | 25% below national |
| 507 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $28,050 | 25% below national |
| 508 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $28,000 | 25% below national |
| 509 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $27,690 | 26% below national |
| 510 | Lafayette, LA | $27,660 | 26% below national |
| 511 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $27,550 | 26% below national |
| 512 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $27,540 | 26% below national |
| 513 | Alexandria, LA | $27,220 | 27% below national |
| 514 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $27,210 | 27% below national |
| 515 | Hammond, LA | $27,130 | 27% below national |
| 516 | Monroe, LA | $27,090 | 28% below national |
| 517 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $26,620 | 29% below national |
| 518 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $26,270 | 30% below national |
| 519 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $25,850 | 31% below national |
| 520 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $25,500 | 32% below national |
| 521 | Arecibo, PR | $23,970 | 36% below national |
| 522 | Guayama, PR | $23,380 | 37% below national |
| 523 | Ponce, PR | $23,350 | 38% below national |
| 524 | Aguadilla, PR | $23,130 | 38% below national |
| 525 | Mayaguez, PR | $23,090 | 38% below national |
| 526 | Puerto Rico nonmetropolitan area | $22,640 | 39% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 35 (food preparation and serving) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Cooks, Restaurant make? ▼
The median annual salary for Cooks, Restaurant is $37,390 ($17.98/hour). The salary range spans from $28,700 at the 10th percentile to $47,900 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Cooks, Restaurant the most? ▼
Washington pays the highest median salary for Cooks, Restaurant at $46,800/year, which is +25% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Cooks, Restaurant? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Cooks, Restaurant is No formal educational credential. Less than 5 years of related work experience is also typically required. On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Cooks, Restaurant? ▼
Cooks, Restaurant has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 1 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 3.5 per 100 workers.
Is Cooks, Restaurant a good career? ▼
Employment for Cooks, Restaurant is projected to grow 14.9% from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than average. About 250,700 openings are projected each year.
How does Cooks, Restaurant pay vary by state? ▼
Cooks, Restaurant salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Washington at $46,800/year, while West Virginia pays the least at $29,590/year. BLS data covers 54 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Cooks, Restaurant? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Cooks, Restaurant is Kahului-Wailuku, HI at $49,560/year. BLS reports wage data for 526 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Cooks, Restaurant pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $44,620/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Washington leads at $46,800/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.