Cooks, Restaurant salary in District of Columbia
Cooks, Restaurant in District of Columbia earn a median of $46,130 a year ($22.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,720 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,020 for the top 10%. That is 23% higher than the national median of $37,390. District of Columbia ranks 2nd of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 11 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $45,570, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in District of Columbia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,440 | $17.52 |
| 25th percentile | $39,960 | $19.21 |
| Median | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| 75th percentile | $47,890 | $23.02 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,020 | $25.49 |
| Average (mean) | $45,570 | $21.91 |
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 | $3,844.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,922.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,774.23 |
| Weekly | $887.12 |
| Hourly | $22.18 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $46,130 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in District of Columbia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $42,920 | 29,670 |
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 District of Columbia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,600 | $19.04 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $44,670 | $21.48 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $47,850 | $23.01 |
| Bartender | $53,920 | $25.92 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $37,430 | $18.00 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $39,080 | $18.79 |
| Dishwasher | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $57,170 | $27.49 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $37,570 | $18.06 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $76,420 | $36.74 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $37,920 | $18.23 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $38,580 | $18.55 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in District of Columbia
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 District of Columbia?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in District of Columbia is $46,130 a year, or $22.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,020 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in District of Columbia?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in District of Columbia earn at least $53,020 a year. The top 25% earn $47,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in District of Columbia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,440 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $39,960 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in District of Columbia?
About 7,720 cooks, restaurant are employed in District of Columbia, not counting the self-employed.