Cooks, Restaurant pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,650 or more. The middle half of cooks, restaurant in Washington earn between $36,790 and $46,070.
- $35K10th
- $37K25th
- $43KMedian
- $46K75th
- $50K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,590 | $3,549 | $20.48 |
| Median | $42,920 | $3,577 | $20.63 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,790 | $3,066 | $17.69 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,070 | $3,839 | $22.15 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Cooks, restaurant in Washington earn 7% less than the Washington, D.C. average ($45,570) and 10% more than the U.S. average ($38,730). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $37,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $42,590 | $42,920 | $35,310 | $49,650 | 29,670 |
| Washington, D.C. | $45,570 | $46,130 | $36,440 | $53,020 | 7,720 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $42,590, a single filer in Washington takes home about $35,012 a year, or $2,918 a month and $1,347 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $35,270 | $2,939 |
| Working in DC | $35,012 | $2,918 |
| Working in VA | $34,766 | $2,897 |
| Working in MD | $34,590 | $2,882 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for cooks, restaurant? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $42,590 buys what about $39,115 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 13.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$34,690
- Baltimore, MD$39,330
- Winchester, VA$35,420
- Lexington Park, MD$38,500
- Gettysburg, PA$34,560
- Chambersburg, PA$32,880
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
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Cooks, Restaurant salary in Washington: questions
How much do cooks, restaurant make an hour in Washington?
$20.48 an hour on average, and $20.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, restaurant salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,790, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, restaurant take-home pay in Washington?
About $35,012 a year ($2,918 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,590.
Do cooks, restaurant earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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: Zillow Home Value Index. 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.04, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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