Cooks, Restaurant salary in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
Cooks, Restaurant in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median of $38,060 a year ($18.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,990 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,390 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 13% lower than the New York statewide median of $43,680. There are 7.5 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $40,620, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| 25th percentile | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| Median | $38,060 | $18.30 |
| 75th percentile | $44,050 | $21.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,390 | $22.30 |
| Average (mean) | $40,620 | $19.53 |
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 | $3,171.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,585.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,463.85 |
| Weekly | $731.92 |
| Hourly | $18.30 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $44,000 | 2,200 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $43,740 | 69,250 |
| Kingston, NY | $43,150 | 750 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $39,610 | 3,100 |
| Ithaca, NY | $39,280 | 350 |
| Syracuse, NY | $38,740 | 1,890 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $38,730 | 480 |
| Rochester, NY | $38,380 | 3,290 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $38,150 | 830 |
| Binghamton, NY | $37,530 | 750 |
| Elmira, NY | $36,970 | 260 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $36,830 | 360 |
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 New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,700 | $16.69 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,730 | $16.70 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $41,860 | $20.12 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,690 | $16.20 |
| Cooks, All Other | $38,580 | $18.55 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,560 | $16.61 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $46,580 | $22.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,720 | $21.50 |
| Bartender | $46,920 | $22.56 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,140 | $16.89 |
| Dishwasher | $35,080 | $16.86 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,190 | $16.44 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $33,860 | $16.28 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $74,290 | $35.72 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $38,060 a year, or $18.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn at least $46,390 a year. The top 25% earn $44,050 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,900 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $36,840 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
About 3,990 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.