Cooks, Restaurant salary in Dover, DE
Cooks, Restaurant in the Dover, DE metro area earn a median of $35,570 a year ($17.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 590 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,560 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 6% lower than the Delaware statewide median of $37,840. There are 8.6 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $36,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Dover, DE
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $35,570 | $17.10 |
| 75th percentile | $37,530 | $18.05 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,560 | $21.42 |
| Average (mean) | $36,570 | $17.58 |
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 | $2,964.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,482.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,368.08 |
| Weekly | $684.04 |
| Hourly | $17.10 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $38,270 | 24,220 |
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 Delaware statewide figures.
Related jobs in Dover, DE
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $41,370 | $19.89 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,560 | $16.62 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,030 | $17.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,720 | $22.46 |
| Bartender | $35,210 | $16.93 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dishwasher | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,990 | $28.84 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $31,200 | $15.00 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Dover, DE
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 Dover, DE?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Dover, DE metro area is $35,570 a year, or $17.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Dover, DE?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Dover, DE metro area earn at least $44,560 a year. The top 25% earn $37,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Dover, DE?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $31,200 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Dover, DE?
About 590 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Dover, DE metro area, not counting the self-employed.