Cooks, Restaurant salary in New Mexico
Cooks, Restaurant in New Mexico earn a median of $35,020 a year ($16.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,810 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,400 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $37,390. New Mexico ranks 43rd of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 9.0 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $35,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in New Mexico
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,100 | $13.51 |
| 25th percentile | $30,220 | $14.53 |
| Median | $35,020 | $16.84 |
| 75th percentile | $37,320 | $17.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,400 | $20.87 |
| Average (mean) | $35,070 | $16.86 |
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 | $2,918.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,459.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,346.92 |
| Weekly | $673.46 |
| Hourly | $16.84 |
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 Mexico
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe, NM | $37,250 | 1,100 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $35,190 | 3,390 |
| Farmington, NM | $34,540 | 370 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $30,980 | 730 |
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 Mexico
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,370 | $16.04 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,470 | $17.54 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,190 | $14.52 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,150 | $17.86 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,700 | $13.80 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,920 | $17.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,310 | $18.90 |
| Bartender | $36,980 | $17.78 |
| Dishwasher | $30,520 | $14.67 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,360 | $14.12 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,480 | $13.69 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,250 | $29.93 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,740 | $17.19 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,250 | $17.43 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in New Mexico
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 Mexico?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in New Mexico is $35,020 a year, or $16.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in New Mexico?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in New Mexico earn at least $43,400 a year. The top 25% earn $37,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in New Mexico?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,100 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $30,220 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in New Mexico?
About 7,810 cooks, restaurant are employed in New Mexico, not counting the self-employed.