Cooks, Restaurant salary in Vermont
Cooks, Restaurant in Vermont earn a median of $45,390 a year ($21.82 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,360 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,180 for the top 10%. That is 21% higher than the national median of $37,390. Vermont ranks 5th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 7.8 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $43,680, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Vermont
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,210 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $37,470 | $18.02 |
| Median | $45,390 | $21.82 |
| 75th percentile | $47,340 | $22.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,180 | $27.01 |
| Average (mean) | $43,680 | $21.00 |
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 | $3,782.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,891.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,745.77 |
| Weekly | $872.88 |
| Hourly | $21.82 |
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 Vermont
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $45,390 | 950 |
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 Vermont
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,550 | $17.57 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,370 | $22.29 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,830 | $18.67 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Cooks, All Other | $41,250 | $19.83 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $36,030 | $17.32 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $59,140 | $28.43 |
| Bartender | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $49,820 | $23.95 |
| Dishwasher | $36,010 | $17.31 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,080 | $14.94 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $65,440 | $31.46 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $32,420 | $15.59 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Vermont
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 Vermont?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Vermont is $45,390 a year, or $21.82 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Vermont?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Vermont earn at least $56,180 a year. The top 25% earn $47,340 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Vermont?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,210 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $37,470 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Vermont?
About 2,360 cooks, restaurant are employed in Vermont, not counting the self-employed.