Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Boulder, CO

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Boulder, CO

Median annual salary $41,390 +12.4% vs national
Median hourly $19.90
10th percentile $33,540
90th percentile $53,820
Employed locally 2,650
National median $36,830

Compare Cooks, Restaurant salary & buying power

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Boulder, CO
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,540
    25th
    $36,970
    50th (median)
    $41,390
    75th
    $46,220
    90th
    $53,820

    Boulder economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,772 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 40% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 60% 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
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $46,180
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $45,230
    District of Columbia $45,230
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $43,420
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $43,320
    North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area $41,980

    Related occupations in Boulder, CO

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $36,130
    Waiters and Waitresses $45,330
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $52,570
    Bartenders $36,820
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $43,150
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $41,600

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Boulder, CO is $19.90, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $26.25 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Boulder, CO is 12.4% 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 Boulder?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $33,540 per year in Boulder, CO. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,970.