Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Worcester, MA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Worcester, MA

Median annual salary $44,110 +19.8% vs national
Median hourly $21.21
10th percentile $32,070
90th percentile $53,880
Employed locally 2,560
National median $36,830

Compare Cooks, Restaurant salary & buying power

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Worcester, MA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $32,070
    25th
    $37,700
    50th (median)
    $44,110
    75th
    $46,500
    90th
    $53,880

    Worcester economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $93,561 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 47% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 53% 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
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Massachusetts $46,280
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $46,180
    Barnstable Town, MA $45,920
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $45,020

    Related occupations in Worcester, MA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $34,500
    Waiters and Waitresses $35,260
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $45,660
    Bartenders $34,430
    Food Preparation Workers $36,430
    Dishwashers $36,010

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Worcester, MA is $21.21, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $27.01 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Worcester, MA is 19.8% 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 Worcester?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $32,070 per year in Worcester, MA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,700.