Cooks, Restaurant salary in Lewiston-Auburn, ME
Cooks, Restaurant in the Lewiston-Auburn, ME metro area earn a median of $44,510 a year ($21.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 250 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,490 for the top 10%. That is 19% higher than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 2% lower than the Maine statewide median of $45,290. There are 5.3 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.58). The average (mean) salary is $44,460, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Lewiston-Auburn, ME
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,420 | $18.47 |
| 25th percentile | $39,680 | $19.08 |
| Median | $44,510 | $21.40 |
| 75th percentile | $46,500 | $22.35 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,490 | $23.31 |
| Average (mean) | $44,460 | $21.37 |
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 | $3,709.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,854.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,711.92 |
| Weekly | $855.96 |
| Hourly | $21.40 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $46,560 | 2,730 |
| Bangor, ME | $40,760 | 510 |
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 Maine statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lewiston-Auburn, ME
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,630 | $17.13 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $43,730 | $21.03 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,470 | $17.05 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,720 | $16.69 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $43,130 | $20.74 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,700 | $22.45 |
| Bartender | $45,040 | $21.66 |
| Dishwasher | $34,920 | $16.79 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,190 | $17.40 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $38,140 | $18.34 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $56,440 | $27.13 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Lewiston-Auburn, ME
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 Lewiston-Auburn, ME?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Lewiston-Auburn, ME metro area is $44,510 a year, or $21.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Lewiston-Auburn, ME?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Lewiston-Auburn, ME metro area earn at least $48,490 a year. The top 25% earn $46,500 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Lewiston-Auburn, ME?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,420 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $39,680 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Lewiston-Auburn, ME?
About 250 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Lewiston-Auburn, ME metro area, not counting the self-employed.