Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Fort Collins, CO

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Fort Collins-Loveland, CO

Median annual salary $38,010 +3.2% vs national
Median hourly $18.27
10th percentile $30,190
90th percentile $46,770
Employed locally 2,130
National median $36,830

Compare Cooks, Restaurant salary & buying power

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Fort Collins, CO
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $30,190
    25th
    $35,550
    50th (median)
    $38,010
    75th
    $45,020
    90th
    $46,770

    Fort Collins economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $91,364 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
    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 Fort Collins, CO

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $34,380
    Waiters and Waitresses $34,580
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $46,000
    Cooks, Fast Food $35,110
    Bartenders $34,610
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $39,510

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Fort Collins?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Fort Collins, CO is $18.27, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.79 or more per hour.

    Is Fort Collins above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Fort Collins, CO is 3.2% 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 Fort Collins?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $30,190 per year in Fort Collins, CO. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,550.