Cooks, Restaurant salary in Nebraska
Cooks, Restaurant in Nebraska earn a median of $37,030 a year ($17.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,750 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,880 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $37,390. Nebraska ranks 22nd of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 4.6 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.51). The average (mean) salary is $37,190, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Nebraska
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,680 | $13.79 |
| 25th percentile | $33,800 | $16.25 |
| Median | $37,030 | $17.81 |
| 75th percentile | $42,510 | $20.44 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| Average (mean) | $37,190 | $17.88 |
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 | $3,085.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,542.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,424.23 |
| Weekly | $712.12 |
| Hourly | $17.81 |
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 Nebraska
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $37,840 | 2,850 |
| Lincoln, NE | $37,290 | 890 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Nebraska
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,210 | $16.93 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,390 | $17.50 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,430 | $14.63 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,530 | $14.68 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,000 | $13.94 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $33,770 | $16.24 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,230 | $18.86 |
| Bartender | $30,180 | $14.51 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,540 | $15.17 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,450 | $13.68 |
| Dishwasher | $29,740 | $14.30 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,690 | $14.76 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,510 | $29.09 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $46,170 | $22.20 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Nebraska
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 Nebraska?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Nebraska is $37,030 a year, or $17.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Nebraska?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Nebraska earn at least $44,880 a year. The top 25% earn $42,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Nebraska?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,680 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $33,800 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Nebraska?
About 4,750 cooks, restaurant are employed in Nebraska, not counting the self-employed.