Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Albany, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY

Median annual salary $38,290 +4% vs national
Median hourly $18.41
10th percentile $34,150
90th percentile $48,260
Employed locally 2,940
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Albany, NY
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $34,150
    25th
    $36,920
    50th (median)
    $38,290
    75th
    $43,180
    90th
    $48,260

    Albany economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $86,072 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 44% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 56% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $41,980
    Kingston, NY $39,170
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $38,870
    Ithaca, NY $37,870
    Syracuse, NY $37,840

    Related occupations in Albany, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$34,170
    Waiters and Waitresses$48,110
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$45,120
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$35,360
    Food Preparation Workers$35,310
    Bartenders$47,740

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Albany?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Albany, NY is $18.41, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.42 or more per hour.

    Is Albany above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Albany, NY is 4% above the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Albany?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $34,150 per year in Albany, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,920.