Cooks, Restaurant pay range in Amherst
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,720 a year or less, while the top 10% make $56,370 or more. The middle half of cooks, restaurant in Amherst earn between $37,520 and $47,520.
- $36K10th
- $38K25th
- $45KMedian
- $48K75th
- $56K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,060 | $3,672 | $21.18 |
| Median | $44,680 | $3,723 | $21.48 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,520 | $3,127 | $18.04 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,520 | $3,960 | $22.85 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Amherst vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Cooks, restaurant in Amherst earn 3% less than the Massachusetts average ($45,450) and 14% more than the U.S. average ($38,730). At the median the gap is +19% against the U.S. median of $37,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst | $44,060 | $44,680 | $35,720 | $56,370 | 540 |
| Massachusetts | $45,450 | $45,600 | $36,540 | $58,590 | 29,570 |
| United States | $38,730 | $37,390 | $28,700 | $47,900 | 1,409,890 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Restaurant salary after taxes in Amherst
On the average salary of $44,060, a single filer in Amherst takes home about $35,699 a year, or $2,975 a month and $1,373 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Amherst a good place for cooks, restaurant? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Amherst area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.2), so the average $44,060 buys what about $43,953 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Amherst ($57,030). A typical home costs $363,400, or 8.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other Massachusetts cities
Amherst ranks 3rd of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job; Barnstable pays the most ($46,830).
- Barnstable$46,830
- Boston$45,880
- Amherst$44,060
- Worcester$43,960
- Pittsfield$43,110
- Springfield$42,540
Highest-paying cities for cooks, restaurant
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($54,460).
- Kahului, HI$54,460
- San Jose, CA$49,390
- Seattle, WA$49,000
- San Francisco, CA$48,630
- Napa, CA$47,830
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Cooks, Restaurant salary in Amherst: questions
How much do cooks, restaurant make an hour in Amherst?
$21.18 an hour on average, and $21.48 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, restaurant salary in Amherst?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,720 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,520, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, restaurant take-home pay in Amherst?
About $35,699 a year ($2,975 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,060. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do cooks, restaurant earn more in Amherst than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% more than the U.S. average for this job ($38,730).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2014; area Amherst Town-Northampton, MA (11200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Census median home value (Zillow does not cover this metro). Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.91, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.