Cooks, Restaurant salary in Rochester, NY
Cooks, Restaurant in the Rochester, NY metro area earn a median of $38,380 a year ($18.45 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,290 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,430 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 12% lower than the New York statewide median of $43,680. There are 6.7 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $40,250, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Rochester, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,360 | $16.52 |
| 25th percentile | $35,930 | $17.28 |
| Median | $38,380 | $18.45 |
| 75th percentile | $44,570 | $21.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,430 | $22.32 |
| Average (mean) | $40,250 | $19.35 |
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 | $3,198.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,599.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,476.15 |
| Weekly | $738.08 |
| Hourly | $18.45 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $44,000 | 2,200 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $43,740 | 69,250 |
| Kingston, NY | $43,150 | 750 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $39,610 | 3,100 |
| Ithaca, NY | $39,280 | 350 |
| Syracuse, NY | $38,740 | 1,890 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $38,730 | 480 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $38,150 | 830 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $38,060 | 3,990 |
| Binghamton, NY | $37,530 | 750 |
| Elmira, NY | $36,970 | 260 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $36,830 | 360 |
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 New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Rochester, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,020 | $16.84 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,380 | $16.05 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,430 | $16.07 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $45,310 | $21.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,040 | $20.69 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,310 | $16.98 |
| Bartender | $45,920 | $22.08 |
| Dishwasher | $33,880 | $16.29 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,780 | $17.20 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $33,750 | $16.22 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,080 | $31.77 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Rochester, NY
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 Rochester, NY?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Rochester, NY metro area is $38,380 a year, or $18.45 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,430 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Rochester, NY?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Rochester, NY metro area earn at least $46,430 a year. The top 25% earn $44,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Rochester, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,360 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $35,930 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Rochester, NY?
About 3,290 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Rochester, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.