Cooks, Restaurant salary in Grand Island, NE
Cooks, Restaurant in the Grand Island, NE metro area earn a median of $36,500 a year ($17.55 an hour), based on BLS data for 200 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,680 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 1% lower than the Nebraska statewide median of $37,030. There are 5.1 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.56). The average (mean) salary is $36,610, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Grand Island, NE
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,450 | $13.68 |
| 25th percentile | $33,360 | $16.04 |
| Median | $36,500 | $17.55 |
| 75th percentile | $41,740 | $20.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Average (mean) | $36,610 | $17.60 |
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 | $3,041.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,520.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,403.85 |
| Weekly | $701.92 |
| Hourly | $17.55 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $37,840 | 2,850 |
| Lincoln, NE | $37,290 | 890 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $36,270 | 560 |
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 Nebraska statewide figures.
Related jobs in Grand Island, NE
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,590 | $16.63 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,630 | $17.13 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,970 | $14.41 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,060 | $14.93 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,150 | $14.01 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,840 | $14.35 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| Bartender | $28,910 | $13.90 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $32,820 | $15.78 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,020 | $14.43 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,500 | $14.66 |
| Dishwasher | $29,690 | $14.28 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Grand Island, NE
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 Grand Island, NE?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Grand Island, NE metro area is $36,500 a year, or $17.55 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,680 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Grand Island, NE?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Grand Island, NE metro area earn at least $43,680 a year. The top 25% earn $41,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Grand Island, NE?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,450 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $33,360 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Grand Island, NE?
About 200 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Grand Island, NE metro area, not counting the self-employed.