Cooks, Restaurant salary in Worcester, MA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Worcester, MA metro area earn a median of $44,250 a year ($21.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,490 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,180 for the top 10%. That is 18% higher than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 3% lower than the Massachusetts statewide median of $45,600. There are 7.1 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $43,960, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Worcester, MA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,990 | $17.30 |
| 25th percentile | $37,710 | $18.13 |
| Median | $44,250 | $21.27 |
| 75th percentile | $47,080 | $22.64 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,180 | $27.01 |
| Average (mean) | $43,960 | $21.13 |
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 | $3,687.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,843.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,701.92 |
| Weekly | $850.96 |
| Hourly | $21.27 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | 1,760 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $45,830 | 22,900 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $44,680 | 540 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | 630 |
| Springfield, MA | $39,970 | 1,410 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $37,460 | 8,850 |
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 Massachusetts statewide figures.
Related jobs in Worcester, MA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,550 | $17.57 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,780 | $22.49 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $40,780 | $19.61 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $36,770 | $17.68 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,610 | $16.64 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,500 | $21.87 |
| Bartender | $35,950 | $17.29 |
| Dishwasher | $36,660 | $17.63 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $33,620 | $16.17 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,870 | $17.25 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,790 | $17.21 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,620 | $31.07 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Worcester, MA
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 Worcester, MA?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Worcester, MA metro area is $44,250 a year, or $21.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Worcester, MA?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Worcester, MA metro area earn at least $56,180 a year. The top 25% earn $47,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Worcester, MA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,990 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $37,710 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Worcester, MA?
About 2,490 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Worcester, MA metro area, not counting the self-employed.