Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Median annual salary $42,050 +14.2% vs national
Median hourly $20.21
10th percentile $31,600
90th percentile $49,270
Employed locally 30,860
National median $36,830

Compare Cooks, Restaurant salary & buying power

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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,600
    25th
    $36,960
    50th (median)
    $42,050
    75th
    $46,130
    90th
    $49,270

    Washington economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $123,896 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 34% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 66% 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

    Related occupations in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $34,280
    Waiters and Waitresses $38,440
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $47,550
    Bartenders $50,070
    Food Preparation Workers $36,220
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $36,380

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV is $20.21, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.87 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV is 14.2% 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 Washington?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $31,600 per year in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,960.