Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Salem, OR

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Salem, OR

Median annual salary $37,560 +2% vs national
Median hourly $18.06
10th percentile $30,720
90th percentile $47,410
Employed locally 1,330
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
in
Salem, OR
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $30,720
    25th
    $35,380
    50th (median)
    $37,560
    75th
    $44,620
    90th
    $47,410

    Salem economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $76,010 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
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area $44,370
    California $44,290
    Worcester, MA $44,110
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $44,000
    Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $43,570

    Related occupations in Salem, OR

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $33,320
    Waiters and Waitresses $33,470
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $44,110
    Food Preparation Workers $36,100
    Bartenders $31,160
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $44,120

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Salem, OR is $18.06, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.91 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Salem, OR is 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 Salem?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $30,720 per year in Salem, OR. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,380.