Cooks, Restaurant salary in Salem, OR
Cooks, Restaurant in the Salem, OR metro area earn a median of $39,170 a year ($18.83 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,610 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,720 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 9% lower than the Oregon statewide median of $43,100. There are 8.6 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $41,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Salem, OR
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,510 | $15.15 |
| 25th percentile | $37,200 | $17.89 |
| Median | $39,170 | $18.83 |
| 75th percentile | $45,510 | $21.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,720 | $23.91 |
| Average (mean) | $41,510 | $19.96 |
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 | $3,264.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,632.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,506.54 |
| Weekly | $753.27 |
| Hourly | $18.83 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $45,200 | 13,020 |
| Bend, OR | $44,540 | 1,530 |
| Grants Pass, OR | $39,110 | 280 |
| Albany, OR | $38,780 | 380 |
| Medford, OR | $38,430 | 960 |
| Corvallis, OR | $38,380 | 430 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $37,960 | 1,660 |
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 Oregon statewide figures.
Related jobs in Salem, OR
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $37,300 | $17.93 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,690 | $21.49 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,870 | $16.29 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,910 | $16.78 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,520 | $16.60 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $48,720 | $23.42 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Bartender | $38,410 | $18.46 |
| Dishwasher | $35,070 | $16.86 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,720 | $16.69 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,780 | $17.68 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,750 | $30.65 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $49,900 | $23.99 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Salem, OR
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 Salem, OR?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Salem, OR metro area is $39,170 a year, or $18.83 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Salem, OR?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Salem, OR metro area earn at least $49,720 a year. The top 25% earn $45,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Salem, OR?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,510 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $37,200 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Salem, OR?
About 1,610 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Salem, OR metro area, not counting the self-employed.