Cooks, Restaurant salary in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area earn a median of $37,460 a year ($18.01 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,850 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,660 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 3% higher than the Rhode Island statewide median of $36,510. There are 12 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $40,760, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| 25th percentile | $34,880 | $16.77 |
| Median | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| 75th percentile | $45,650 | $21.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,660 | $23.88 |
| Average (mean) | $40,760 | $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 | $3,121.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,560.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,440.77 |
| Weekly | $720.38 |
| Hourly | $18.01 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | 1,760 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $45,830 | 22,900 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $44,680 | 540 |
| Worcester, MA | $44,250 | 2,490 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | 630 |
| Springfield, MA | $39,970 | 1,410 |
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 Rhode Island statewide figures.
Related jobs in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,350 | $22.28 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,260 | $16.95 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $44,050 | $21.18 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,700 | $16.20 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,750 | $17.19 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,640 | $22.42 |
| Bartender | $35,680 | $17.15 |
| Dishwasher | $34,640 | $16.65 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,870 | $16.77 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $79,340 | $38.15 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,400 | $15.10 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
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 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area is $37,460 a year, or $18.01 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area earn at least $49,660 a year. The top 25% earn $45,650 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,840 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $34,880 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA?
About 8,850 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area, not counting the self-employed.