Cooks, Restaurant salary in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Cooks, Restaurant in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median of $45,830 a year ($22.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 22,900 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,690 for the top 10%. That is 23% higher than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 1% higher than the Massachusetts statewide median of $45,600. There are 8.5 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $45,880, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| 25th percentile | $39,400 | $18.94 |
| Median | $45,830 | $22.03 |
| 75th percentile | $49,390 | $23.75 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,690 | $28.22 |
| Average (mean) | $45,880 | $22.06 |
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 | $3,819.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,909.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,762.69 |
| Weekly | $881.35 |
| Hourly | $22.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $45,830 salary, see how much house you can afford in Massachusetts 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | 1,760 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $44,680 | 540 |
| Worcester, MA | $44,250 | 2,490 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | 630 |
| Springfield, MA | $39,970 | 1,410 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $38,960 | 1,900 |
| 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,660 | $19.07 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $48,530 | $23.33 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $39,600 | $19.04 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $36,290 | $17.45 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $39,270 | $18.88 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $47,090 | $22.64 |
| Bartender | $37,760 | $18.15 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $35,140 | $16.89 |
| Dishwasher | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,780 | $16.72 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $72,470 | $34.84 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $38,210 | $18.37 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $45,830 a year, or $22.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,690 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn at least $58,690 a year. The top 25% earn $49,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,810 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $39,400 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
About 22,900 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, not counting the self-employed.