Cooks, Restaurant salary in Reno, NV
Cooks, Restaurant in the Reno, NV metro area earn a median of $38,930 a year ($18.72 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,200 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,370 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 1% higher than the Nevada statewide median of $38,610. There are 12 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $40,490, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Reno, NV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,640 | $13.77 |
| 25th percentile | $36,980 | $17.78 |
| Median | $38,930 | $18.72 |
| 75th percentile | $45,740 | $21.99 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,370 | $22.77 |
| Average (mean) | $40,490 | $19.47 |
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 | $3,244.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,622.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,497.31 |
| Weekly | $748.65 |
| Hourly | $18.72 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $38,800 | 22,530 |
| Carson City, NV | $38,430 | 290 |
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 Nevada statewide figures.
Related jobs in Reno, NV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,410 | $14.62 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $43,270 | $20.81 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $41,530 | $19.96 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,530 | $15.16 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $25,700 | $12.36 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,590 | $20.48 |
| Bartender | $25,770 | $12.39 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,030 | $12.52 |
| Dishwasher | $33,190 | $15.96 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,620 | $13.76 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,690 | $16.68 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $33,050 | $15.89 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Reno, NV
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 Reno, NV?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Reno, NV metro area is $38,930 a year, or $18.72 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,370 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Reno, NV?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Reno, NV metro area earn at least $47,370 a year. The top 25% earn $45,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Reno, NV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,640 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $36,980 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Reno, NV?
About 3,200 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Reno, NV metro area, not counting the self-employed.