Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Olympia, WA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA

Median annual salary $39,170 +6.4% vs national
Median hourly $18.83
10th percentile $35,630
90th percentile $52,660
Employed locally 1,170
National median $36,830

Compare Cooks, Restaurant salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Olympia, WA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Cooks, Restaurant
in
Olympia, WA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,630
    25th
    $37,000
    50th (median)
    $39,170
    75th
    $45,950
    90th
    $52,660

    Olympia economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $93,985 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
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $46,180
    Washington $44,980
    Hawaii $44,710
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $44,000

    Related occupations in Olympia, WA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $35,710
    Waiters and Waitresses $46,280
    Food Preparation Workers $37,810
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $48,030
    Bartenders $46,020
    Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop $34,790

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Olympia, WA is $18.83, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $26.34 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Olympia, WA is 6.4% 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 Olympia?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $35,630 per year in Olympia, WA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,000.