Cooks, Restaurant salary in Boulder, CO
Cooks, Restaurant in the Boulder, CO metro area earn a median of $42,220 a year ($20.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,190 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,600 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 1% higher than the Colorado statewide median of $41,600. There are 11 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,970, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Boulder, CO
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,340 | $16.51 |
| 25th percentile | $37,500 | $18.03 |
| Median | $42,220 | $20.30 |
| 75th percentile | $46,350 | $22.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,600 | $26.25 |
| Average (mean) | $42,970 | $20.66 |
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 | $3,518.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,759.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,623.85 |
| Weekly | $811.92 |
| Hourly | $20.30 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $44,370 | 15,410 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $38,370 | 1,930 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $38,000 | 3,330 |
| Greeley, CO | $36,900 | 1,000 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $36,420 | 690 |
| Pueblo, CO | $35,920 | 580 |
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 Colorado statewide figures.
Related jobs in Boulder, CO
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $48,020 | $23.09 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,690 | $19.08 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $36,190 | $17.40 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $49,870 | $23.97 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $52,020 | $25.01 |
| Bartender | $42,520 | $20.44 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $38,930 | $18.72 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $38,220 | $18.38 |
| Dishwasher | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,740 | $29.68 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $39,270 | $18.88 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Boulder, CO
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 Boulder, CO?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Boulder, CO metro area is $42,220 a year, or $20.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Boulder, CO?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Boulder, CO metro area earn at least $54,600 a year. The top 25% earn $46,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Boulder, CO?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,340 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $37,500 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Boulder, CO?
About 2,190 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Boulder, CO metro area, not counting the self-employed.