Cooks, Restaurant salary in Ponce, PR
Cooks, Restaurant in the Ponce, PR metro area earn a median of $23,350 a year ($11.23 an hour), based on BLS data for 600 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $28,740 for the top 10%. That is 38% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 5% lower than the Puerto Rico statewide median of $24,650. There are 9.4 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $25,110, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Ponce, PR
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,840 | $10.50 |
| 25th percentile | $22,320 | $10.73 |
| Median | $23,350 | $11.23 |
| 75th percentile | $26,530 | $12.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $28,740 | $13.82 |
| Average (mean) | $25,110 | $12.07 |
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 | $1,945.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $972.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $898.08 |
| Weekly | $449.04 |
| Hourly | $11.23 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $25,500 | 7,210 |
| Arecibo, PR | $23,970 | 380 |
| Guayama, PR | $23,380 | 110 |
| Aguadilla, PR | $23,130 | 600 |
| Mayaguez, PR | $23,090 | 570 |
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 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Puerto Rico statewide figures.
Related jobs in Ponce, PR
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $28,540 | $13.72 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $22,330 | $10.74 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $21,960 | $10.56 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $21,840 | $10.50 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $22,260 | $10.70 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $27,900 | $13.41 |
| Bartender | $21,970 | $10.56 |
| Dishwasher | $22,370 | $10.76 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $23,770 | $11.43 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $21,840 | $10.50 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $22,360 | $10.75 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $30,800 | $14.81 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Ponce, PR
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 Ponce, PR?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Ponce, PR metro area is $23,350 a year, or $11.23 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $28,740 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Ponce, PR?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Ponce, PR metro area earn at least $28,740 a year. The top 25% earn $26,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Ponce, PR?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,840 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $22,320 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Ponce, PR?
About 600 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Ponce, PR metro area, not counting the self-employed.