Cooks, Restaurant salary in New York
Cooks, Restaurant in New York earn a median of $43,680 a year ($21.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 71,530 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,240 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $37,390. New York ranks 8th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 7.4 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $43,150, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in New York
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,490 | $16.58 |
| 25th percentile | $37,100 | $17.84 |
| Median | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| 75th percentile | $46,530 | $22.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,240 | $26.08 |
| Average (mean) | $43,150 | $20.75 |
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 | $3,640 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,820 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,680 |
| Weekly | $840 |
| Hourly | $21.00 |
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 York
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $44,000 | 2,200 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $43,740 | 69,250 |
| Kingston, NY | $43,150 | 750 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $39,610 | 3,100 |
| Ithaca, NY | $39,280 | 350 |
| Syracuse, NY | $38,740 | 1,890 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $38,730 | 480 |
| Rochester, NY | $38,380 | 3,290 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $38,150 | 830 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $38,060 | 3,990 |
| Binghamton, NY | $37,530 | 750 |
| Elmira, NY | $36,970 | 260 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $36,830 | 360 |
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 York
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,610 | $17.12 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,550 | $17.09 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $45,880 | $22.06 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,770 | $17.20 |
| Cooks, All Other | $43,000 | $20.67 |
| Cooks, Private Household | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $47,020 | $22.61 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $47,190 | $22.69 |
| Bartender | $61,210 | $29.43 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,740 | $17.66 |
| Dishwasher | $35,450 | $17.04 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,490 | $17.54 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $39,370 | $18.93 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in New York
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 York?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in New York is $43,680 a year, or $21.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,240 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in New York?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in New York earn at least $54,240 a year. The top 25% earn $46,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in New York?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,490 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $37,100 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in New York?
About 71,530 cooks, restaurant are employed in New York, not counting the self-employed.