Cooks, Restaurant salary in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Cooks, Restaurant in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median of $44,370 a year ($21.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 15,410 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,880 for the top 10%. That is 19% higher than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 7% higher than the Colorado statewide median of $41,600. There are 9.6 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $43,550, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| 25th percentile | $38,850 | $18.68 |
| Median | $44,370 | $21.33 |
| 75th percentile | $45,950 | $22.09 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,880 | $23.98 |
| Average (mean) | $43,550 | $20.94 |
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 | $3,697.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,848.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,706.54 |
| Weekly | $853.27 |
| Hourly | $21.33 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | $42,220 | 2,190 |
| 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,470 | $18.98 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $45,070 | $21.67 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $38,530 | $18.53 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $44,200 | $21.25 |
| Cooks, All Other | $49,780 | $23.93 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $37,070 | $17.82 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $39,650 | $19.06 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $52,520 | $25.25 |
| Bartender | $37,180 | $17.88 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $39,850 | $19.16 |
| Dishwasher | $38,710 | $18.61 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,880 | $17.73 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,970 | $32.20 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $44,370 a year, or $21.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn at least $49,880 a year. The top 25% earn $45,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,340 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $38,850 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
About 15,410 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area, not counting the self-employed.