Cooks, Restaurant salary in Utah
Cooks, Restaurant in Utah earn a median of $36,490 a year ($17.55 an hour), based on BLS data for 10,520 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,580 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $37,390. Utah ranks 31st of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 6.1 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.67). The average (mean) salary is $37,340, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Utah
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,800 | $13.85 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $36,490 | $17.55 |
| 75th percentile | $41,950 | $20.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,580 | $22.40 |
| Average (mean) | $37,340 | $17.95 |
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 | $3,040.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,520.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,403.46 |
| Weekly | $701.73 |
| 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 Utah
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $36,700 | 4,600 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $36,540 | 1,400 |
| Ogden, UT | $36,430 | 1,340 |
| St. George, UT | $35,590 | 840 |
| Logan, UT-ID | $35,210 | 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 |
Related jobs in Utah
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,540 | $16.12 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,200 | $18.36 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $31,800 | $15.29 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,010 | $18.27 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,670 | $13.78 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,150 | $14.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,750 | $18.63 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,610 | $14.24 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,010 | $12.99 |
| Dishwasher | $31,830 | $15.30 |
| Bartender | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,170 | $14.51 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $59,060 | $28.39 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $37,180 | $17.87 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Utah
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 Utah?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Utah is $36,490 a year, or $17.55 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Utah?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Utah earn at least $46,580 a year. The top 25% earn $41,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Utah?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,800 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $31,200 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Utah?
About 10,520 cooks, restaurant are employed in Utah, not counting the self-employed.