Cooks, Restaurant salary in Hawaii
Cooks, Restaurant in Hawaii earn a median of $45,420 a year ($21.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,090 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,320 for the top 10%. That is 21% higher than the national median of $37,390. Hawaii ranks 4th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 18 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $47,080, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Hawaii
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,740 | $17.18 |
| 25th percentile | $37,260 | $17.91 |
| Median | $45,420 | $21.84 |
| 75th percentile | $55,550 | $26.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,320 | $31.41 |
| Average (mean) | $47,080 | $22.64 |
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 | $3,785 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,892.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,746.92 |
| Weekly | $873.46 |
| Hourly | $21.84 |
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 Hawaii
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $49,560 | 1,770 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $42,450 | 6,960 |
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 Hawaii
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,160 | $18.35 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $47,770 | $22.97 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $43,110 | $20.73 |
| Cooks, All Other | $39,870 | $19.17 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $48,120 | $23.14 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $62,390 | $29.99 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,880 | $23.50 |
| Dishwasher | $37,740 | $18.14 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $51,200 | $24.62 |
| Bartender | $76,490 | $36.78 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $47,070 | $22.63 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $77,360 | $37.19 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $37,920 | $18.23 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Hawaii
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 Hawaii?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Hawaii is $45,420 a year, or $21.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Hawaii?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Hawaii earn at least $65,320 a year. The top 25% earn $55,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Hawaii?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,740 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $37,260 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Hawaii?
About 11,090 cooks, restaurant are employed in Hawaii, not counting the self-employed.