Cooks, Restaurant salary in Rhode Island
Cooks, Restaurant in Rhode Island earn a median of $36,510 a year ($17.55 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,950 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,450 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $37,390. Rhode Island ranks 30th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 14 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $40,290, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Rhode Island
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| 25th percentile | $34,610 | $16.64 |
| Median | $36,510 | $17.55 |
| 75th percentile | $45,650 | $21.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,450 | $23.77 |
| Average (mean) | $40,290 | $19.37 |
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 | $3,042.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,521.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,404.23 |
| Weekly | $702.12 |
| Hourly | $17.55 |
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 Rhode Island
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $37,460 | 8,850 |
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 Rhode Island
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,470 | $17.06 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,230 | $16.94 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $46,250 | $22.24 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,490 | $15.14 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,420 | $17.03 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| Bartender | $36,410 | $17.51 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dishwasher | $33,960 | $16.33 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $79,930 | $38.43 |
| 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 Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Rhode Island is $36,510 a year, or $17.55 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Rhode Island?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Rhode Island earn at least $49,450 a year. The top 25% earn $45,650 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Rhode Island?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,840 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $34,610 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Rhode Island?
About 6,950 cooks, restaurant are employed in Rhode Island, not counting the self-employed.