Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Helena, MT

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Helena, MT

Median annual salary $36,120 -1.9% vs national
Median hourly $17.37
10th percentile $23,420
90th percentile $49,640
Employed locally 620
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Helena, MT
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $23,420
    25th
    $29,920
    50th (median)
    $36,120
    75th
    $42,620
    90th
    $49,640

    Helena economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $74,040 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 49% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 51% 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
    Great Falls, MT $35,570
    Sumter, SC $30,120

    Related occupations in Helena, MT

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,050
    Waiters and Waitresses $21,870
    Bartenders $22,610
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $40,310
    Food Preparation Workers $31,580
    Dishwashers $27,640

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Helena, MT is $17.37, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.95 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Helena, MT is 1.9% 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 Helena?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $23,420 per year in Helena, MT. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,920.