Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Great Falls, MT

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Great Falls, MT

Median annual salary $35,570 -3.4% vs national
Median hourly $17.10
10th percentile $22,450
90th percentile $48,430
Employed locally 550
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Great Falls, MT
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,450
    25th
    $28,960
    50th (median)
    $35,570
    75th
    $44,210
    90th
    $48,430

    Great Falls economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $66,203 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 54% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 46% 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
    Bozeman, MT $38,890
    Missoula, MT $37,080
    Binghamton, NY $36,820
    Billings, MT $36,510
    Helena, MT $36,120
    Sumter, SC $30,120

    Related occupations in Great Falls, MT

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,640
    Waiters and Waitresses $22,420
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,670
    Bartenders $22,450
    Food Preparation Workers $29,910
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $36,240

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Great Falls?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Great Falls, MT is $17.10, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.18 or more per hour.

    Is Great Falls above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Great Falls, MT is 3.4% below 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 Great Falls?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $22,450 per year in Great Falls, MT. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,960.