Cooks, Restaurant salary in Washington
Cooks, Restaurant in Washington earn a median of $46,800 a year ($22.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 35,140 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,910 for the top 10%. That is 25% higher than the national median of $37,390. Washington ranks 1st of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 9.9 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $47,200, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,940 | $18.24 |
| 25th percentile | $42,770 | $20.56 |
| Median | $46,800 | $22.50 |
| 75th percentile | $49,540 | $23.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,910 | $27.84 |
| Average (mean) | $47,200 | $22.69 |
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 | $3,900 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,950 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,800 |
| Weekly | $900 |
| Hourly | $22.50 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $47,730 | 20,850 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $46,460 | 1,090 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $46,450 | 590 |
| Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | 1,090 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $45,280 | 1,150 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $45,200 | 13,020 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $44,980 | 310 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $44,960 | 1,090 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $44,550 | 780 |
| Yakima, WA | $44,390 | 680 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $44,230 | 2,490 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $44,050 | 260 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $36,410 | 220 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $40,910 | $19.67 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $49,670 | $23.88 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $39,120 | $18.81 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,760 | $20.56 |
| Cooks, All Other | $52,510 | $25.25 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $37,710 | $18.13 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $56,130 | $26.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $59,400 | $28.56 |
| Bartender | $55,830 | $26.84 |
| Dishwasher | $40,080 | $19.27 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $37,270 | $17.92 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $38,870 | $18.69 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $41,420 | $19.91 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $76,010 | $36.54 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Washington is $46,800 a year, or $22.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Washington?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Washington earn at least $57,910 a year. The top 25% earn $49,540 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,940 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $42,770 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Washington?
About 35,140 cooks, restaurant are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.