Cooks, Restaurant salary in Lincoln, NE
Cooks, Restaurant in the Lincoln, NE metro area earn a median of $37,290 a year ($17.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 890 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,210 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 1% higher than the Nebraska statewide median of $37,030. There are 4.9 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.54). The average (mean) salary is $37,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Lincoln, NE
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,580 | $14.22 |
| 25th percentile | $34,990 | $16.82 |
| Median | $37,290 | $17.93 |
| 75th percentile | $42,380 | $20.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,210 | $21.26 |
| Average (mean) | $37,830 | $18.19 |
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 | $3,107.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,553.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,434.23 |
| Weekly | $717.12 |
| Hourly | $17.93 |
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 |
| Grand Island, NE | $36,500 | 200 |
| 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 Lincoln, NE
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,210 | $16.93 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,430 | $14.15 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,830 | $17.71 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,340 | $14.59 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,510 | $13.71 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Bartender | $30,660 | $14.74 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,480 | $14.17 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,150 | $13.54 |
| Dishwasher | $30,060 | $14.45 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,450 | $14.64 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,680 | $28.69 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Lincoln, 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 Lincoln, NE?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Lincoln, NE metro area is $37,290 a year, or $17.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Lincoln, NE?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Lincoln, NE metro area earn at least $44,210 a year. The top 25% earn $42,380 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Lincoln, NE?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,580 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $34,990 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Lincoln, NE?
About 890 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Lincoln, NE metro area, not counting the self-employed.