Cooks, Restaurant salary in Nevada
Cooks, Restaurant in Nevada earn a median of $38,610 a year ($18.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 27,250 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,540 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $37,390. Nevada ranks 15th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 18 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,130, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Nevada
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,300 | $14.57 |
| 25th percentile | $36,530 | $17.56 |
| Median | $38,610 | $18.56 |
| 75th percentile | $47,170 | $22.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,540 | $27.18 |
| Average (mean) | $42,130 | $20.26 |
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 | $3,217.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,608.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,485 |
| Weekly | $742.50 |
| Hourly | $18.56 |
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 Nevada
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Reno, NV | $38,930 | 3,200 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $38,800 | 22,530 |
| Carson City, NV | $38,430 | 290 |
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 Nevada
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,460 | $16.09 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,840 | $16.27 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,430 | $18.96 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,780 | $18.16 |
| Cooks, All Other | $51,220 | $24.63 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,950 | $15.36 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $26,410 | $12.70 |
| Bartender | $27,460 | $13.20 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,030 | $21.17 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,460 | $13.20 |
| Dishwasher | $34,920 | $16.79 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,170 | $14.99 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,380 | $29.99 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,030 | $17.32 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Nevada
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 Nevada?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Nevada is $38,610 a year, or $18.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Nevada?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Nevada earn at least $56,540 a year. The top 25% earn $47,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Nevada?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,300 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $36,530 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Nevada?
About 27,250 cooks, restaurant are employed in Nevada, not counting the self-employed.