Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Denver, CO

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO

Median annual salary $43,420 +17.9% vs national
Median hourly $20.88
10th percentile $36,900
90th percentile $50,590
Employed locally 17,090
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Denver, CO
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,900
    25th
    $37,670
    50th (median)
    $43,420
    75th
    $45,700
    90th
    $50,590

    Denver economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,339 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 42% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 58% 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
    District of Columbia $45,230
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $45,230
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $43,320
    North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area $41,980
    Boulder, CO $41,390

    Related occupations in Denver, CO

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $36,310
    Waiters and Waitresses $33,870
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $50,540
    Bartenders $32,530
    Food Preparation Workers $39,300
    Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop $36,810

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Denver, CO is $20.88, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.98 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Denver, CO is 17.9% 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 Denver?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $36,900 per year in Denver, CO. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,670.