Cooks, Restaurant salary in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
Cooks, Restaurant in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area earn a median of $38,400 a year ($18.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,020 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,600 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is about the same as the New Jersey statewide median of $38,460. There are 4.2 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.47). The average (mean) salary is $40,790, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| 25th percentile | $36,210 | $17.41 |
| Median | $38,400 | $18.46 |
| 75th percentile | $44,490 | $21.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,600 | $23.36 |
| Average (mean) | $40,790 | $19.61 |
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 | $3,200 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,600 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,476.92 |
| Weekly | $738.46 |
| Hourly | $18.46 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,400 salary, see how much house you can afford in New Jersey at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $43,740 | 69,250 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $40,250 | 3,370 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $38,270 | 24,220 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $37,120 | 3,200 |
| Vineland, NJ | $36,890 | 260 |
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 Jersey statewide figures.
Related jobs in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,950 | $17.28 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $42,960 | $20.65 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,920 | $17.27 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,720 | $16.69 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $38,070 | $18.30 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,850 | $22.52 |
| Bartender | $38,800 | $18.66 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $70,210 | $33.75 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,740 | $17.18 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,830 | $16.74 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $43,350 | $20.84 |
| Dishwasher | $35,360 | $17.00 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area is $38,400 a year, or $18.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area earn at least $48,600 a year. The top 25% earn $44,490 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,220 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $36,210 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
About 1,020 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area, not counting the self-employed.