Cooks, Restaurant salary in Delaware
Cooks, Restaurant in Delaware earn a median of $37,840 a year ($18.19 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,280 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,940 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $37,390. Delaware ranks 19th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 11 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $39,190, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Delaware
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,250 | $15.02 |
| 25th percentile | $35,410 | $17.03 |
| Median | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| 75th percentile | $44,960 | $21.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,940 | $22.57 |
| Average (mean) | $39,190 | $18.84 |
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 | $3,153.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,576.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,455.38 |
| Weekly | $727.69 |
| Hourly | $18.19 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in Delaware
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $38,270 | 24,220 |
| Dover, DE | $35,570 | 590 |
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 |
Related jobs in Delaware
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,080 | $21.19 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,930 | $17.28 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,500 | $18.51 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,300 | $15.05 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,880 | $17.73 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,120 | $23.13 |
| Bartender | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,880 | $15.33 |
| Dishwasher | $35,780 | $17.20 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,430 | $15.11 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,440 | $29.54 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $33,840 | $16.27 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Delaware
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 Delaware?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Delaware is $37,840 a year, or $18.19 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Delaware?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Delaware earn at least $46,940 a year. The top 25% earn $44,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Delaware?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,250 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $35,410 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Delaware?
About 5,280 cooks, restaurant are employed in Delaware, not counting the self-employed.