Cooks, Restaurant salary in Great Falls, MT
Cooks, Restaurant in the Great Falls, MT metro area earn a median of $36,610 a year ($17.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 490 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,140 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 4% lower than the Montana statewide median of $38,060. There are 13 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $36,750, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Great Falls, MT
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,700 | $13.80 |
| 25th percentile | $30,430 | $14.63 |
| Median | $36,610 | $17.60 |
| 75th percentile | $38,640 | $18.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,140 | $22.18 |
| Average (mean) | $36,750 | $17.67 |
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 | $3,050.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,525.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,408.08 |
| Weekly | $704.04 |
| Hourly | $17.60 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | $42,430 | 1,370 |
| Billings, MT | $38,260 | 1,370 |
| Missoula, MT | $38,080 | 1,020 |
| Helena, MT | $38,030 | 570 |
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 Montana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Great Falls, MT
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,490 | $14.66 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,770 | $17.20 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,370 | $15.56 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,200 | $13.56 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $22,270 | $10.71 |
| Bartender | $25,310 | $12.17 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,320 | $20.34 |
| Dishwasher | $28,940 | $13.91 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $37,530 | $18.04 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $22,990 | $11.05 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,550 | $14.21 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $26,500 | $12.74 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Great Falls, MT
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 Great Falls, MT?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Great Falls, MT metro area is $36,610 a year, or $17.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Great Falls, MT?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Great Falls, MT metro area earn at least $46,140 a year. The top 25% earn $38,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Great Falls, MT?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,700 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $30,430 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Great Falls, MT?
About 490 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Great Falls, MT metro area, not counting the self-employed.