Cooks, Restaurant salary in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
Cooks, Restaurant in the Fort Collins-Loveland, CO metro area earn a median of $38,370 a year ($18.45 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,930 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,400 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 8% lower than the Colorado statewide median of $41,600. There are 11 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $40,840, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,450 | $16.56 |
| 25th percentile | $36,830 | $17.71 |
| Median | $38,370 | $18.45 |
| 75th percentile | $44,810 | $21.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,400 | $22.79 |
| Average (mean) | $40,840 | $19.63 |
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 | $3,197.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,598.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,475.77 |
| Weekly | $737.88 |
| Hourly | $18.45 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,370 salary, see how much house you can afford in Colorado 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $44,370 | 15,410 |
| Boulder, CO | $42,220 | 2,190 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $38,000 | 3,330 |
| Greeley, CO | $36,900 | 1,000 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $36,420 | 690 |
| Pueblo, CO | $35,920 | 580 |
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 Colorado statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,230 | $16.94 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,510 | $17.55 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,770 | $19.12 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,630 | $15.69 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,850 | $16.75 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $47,360 | $22.77 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $47,150 | $22.67 |
| Bartender | $46,290 | $22.26 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,890 | $16.78 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,970 | $17.78 |
| Dishwasher | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $37,080 | $17.83 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,090 | $29.37 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,050 | $16.85 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
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 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Fort Collins-Loveland, CO metro area is $38,370 a year, or $18.45 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Fort Collins-Loveland, CO metro area earn at least $47,400 a year. The top 25% earn $44,810 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,450 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $36,830 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO?
About 1,930 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Fort Collins-Loveland, CO metro area, not counting the self-employed.