Cooks, Restaurant salary in New Jersey
Cooks, Restaurant in New Jersey earn a median of $38,460 a year ($18.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 28,800 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,010 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $37,390. New Jersey ranks 17th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 6.7 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $40,770, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| 25th percentile | $35,880 | $17.25 |
| Median | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| 75th percentile | $45,600 | $21.92 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,010 | $24.04 |
| Average (mean) | $40,770 | $19.60 |
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 | $3,205 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,602.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,479.23 |
| Weekly | $739.62 |
| Hourly | $18.49 |
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 New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $43,740 | 69,250 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $40,250 | 3,370 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $38,400 | 1,020 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $38,270 | 24,220 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $37,120 | 3,200 |
| Vineland, NJ | $36,890 | 260 |
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 New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,520 | $21.40 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $40,720 | $19.58 |
| Cooks, All Other | $46,080 | $22.15 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,150 | $16.42 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,960 | $21.62 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,420 | $23.28 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,170 | $16.43 |
| Bartender | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,390 | $17.50 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,050 | $16.37 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $74,280 | $35.71 |
| Dishwasher | $35,900 | $17.26 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in New Jersey is $38,460 a year, or $18.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,010 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in New Jersey earn at least $50,010 a year. The top 25% earn $45,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,220 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $35,880 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in New Jersey?
About 28,800 cooks, restaurant are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.