Cooks, Restaurant salary in Massachusetts
Cooks, Restaurant in Massachusetts earn a median of $45,600 a year ($21.92 an hour), based on BLS data for 29,570 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,590 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $37,390. Massachusetts ranks 3rd of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 8.1 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $45,450, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Massachusetts
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| 25th percentile | $38,370 | $18.45 |
| Median | $45,600 | $21.92 |
| 75th percentile | $49,040 | $23.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,590 | $28.17 |
| Average (mean) | $45,450 | $21.85 |
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 | $3,800 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,900 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,753.85 |
| Weekly | $876.92 |
| Hourly | $21.92 |
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 Massachusetts
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | 1,760 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $45,830 | 22,900 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $44,680 | 540 |
| Worcester, MA | $44,250 | 2,490 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | 630 |
| Springfield, MA | $39,970 | 1,410 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $37,460 | 8,850 |
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 Massachusetts
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,900 | $18.70 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $47,790 | $22.98 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $44,290 | $21.29 |
| Cooks, All Other | $69,570 | $33.45 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $37,870 | $18.21 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,850 | $17.24 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,600 | $22.40 |
| Bartender | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Dishwasher | $37,190 | $17.88 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,380 | $17.01 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $69,540 | $33.43 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,750 | $17.67 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Massachusetts is $45,600 a year, or $21.92 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Massachusetts?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Massachusetts earn at least $58,590 a year. The top 25% earn $49,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Massachusetts?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,540 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $38,370 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Massachusetts?
About 29,570 cooks, restaurant are employed in Massachusetts, not counting the self-employed.