Cooks, Restaurant salary in Billings, MT
Cooks, Restaurant in the Billings, MT metro area earn a median of $38,260 a year ($18.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,370 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,340 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 1% higher than the Montana statewide median of $38,060. There are 15 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $38,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Billings, MT
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,300 | $14.57 |
| 25th percentile | $35,150 | $16.90 |
| Median | $38,260 | $18.39 |
| 75th percentile | $43,050 | $20.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,340 | $22.76 |
| Average (mean) | $38,600 | $18.56 |
Half of cooks, restaurant earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,188.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,594.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,471.54 |
| Weekly | $735.77 |
| Hourly | $18.39 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | $42,430 | 1,370 |
| Missoula, MT | $38,080 | 1,020 |
| Helena, MT | $38,030 | 570 |
| Great Falls, MT | $36,610 | 490 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Montana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Billings, MT
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,590 | $16.63 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,700 | $18.12 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,130 | $14.00 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $22,940 | $11.03 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,030 | $21.17 |
| Bartender | $23,550 | $11.32 |
| Dishwasher | $31,450 | $15.12 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,180 | $12.59 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,550 | $14.69 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,190 | $13.55 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $30,310 | $14.57 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,200 | $28.94 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Billings, MT
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2014. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Billings, MT?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Billings, MT metro area is $38,260 a year, or $18.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,340 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Billings, MT?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Billings, MT metro area earn at least $47,340 a year. The top 25% earn $43,050 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Billings, MT?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,300 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $35,150 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Billings, MT?
About 1,370 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Billings, MT metro area, not counting the self-employed.