Cooks, Restaurant salary in Oregon
Cooks, Restaurant in Oregon earn a median of $43,100 a year ($20.72 an hour), based on BLS data for 21,550 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,280 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $37,390. Oregon ranks 9th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 11 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $44,130, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Oregon
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| 25th percentile | $38,030 | $18.28 |
| Median | $43,100 | $20.72 |
| 75th percentile | $47,730 | $22.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,280 | $28.02 |
| Average (mean) | $44,130 | $21.22 |
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 | $3,591.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,795.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,657.69 |
| Weekly | $828.85 |
| Hourly | $20.72 |
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 Oregon
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $45,200 | 13,020 |
| Bend, OR | $44,540 | 1,530 |
| Salem, OR | $39,170 | 1,610 |
| Grants Pass, OR | $39,110 | 280 |
| Albany, OR | $38,780 | 380 |
| Medford, OR | $38,430 | 960 |
| Corvallis, OR | $38,380 | 430 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $37,960 | 1,660 |
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 Oregon
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $37,450 | $18.00 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,520 | $21.40 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $37,880 | $18.21 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,550 | $18.54 |
| Cooks, All Other | $42,020 | $20.20 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,050 | $16.85 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $48,410 | $23.27 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,950 | $22.57 |
| Bartender | $38,900 | $18.70 |
| Dishwasher | $36,040 | $17.33 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $40,720 | $19.58 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,620 | $17.61 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,800 | $17.69 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,600 | $30.58 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Oregon
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 Oregon?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Oregon is $43,100 a year, or $20.72 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Oregon?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Oregon earn at least $58,280 a year. The top 25% earn $47,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Oregon?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,080 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $38,030 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Oregon?
About 21,550 cooks, restaurant are employed in Oregon, not counting the self-employed.