Cooks, Restaurant salary in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT
Cooks, Restaurant in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area earn a median of $36,700 a year ($17.65 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,600 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,300 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 1% higher than the Utah statewide median of $36,490. There are 5.6 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $38,160, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,000 | $13.94 |
| 25th percentile | $34,110 | $16.40 |
| Median | $36,700 | $17.65 |
| 75th percentile | $43,370 | $20.85 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,300 | $22.74 |
| Average (mean) | $38,160 | $18.35 |
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 | $3,058.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,529.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,411.54 |
| Weekly | $705.77 |
| Hourly | $17.65 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,700 salary, see how much house you can afford in Utah 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $36,540 | 1,400 |
| Ogden, UT | $36,430 | 1,340 |
| St. George, UT | $35,590 | 840 |
| Logan, UT-ID | $35,210 | 360 |
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 Utah statewide figures.
Related jobs in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,370 | $16.04 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,870 | $19.17 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $34,160 | $16.42 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $39,040 | $18.77 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,070 | $13.98 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $32,320 | $15.54 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,860 | $18.69 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,620 | $14.24 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,670 | $12.82 |
| Bartender | $29,790 | $14.32 |
| Dishwasher | $34,480 | $16.58 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,710 | $15.25 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,030 | $28.86 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $39,570 | $19.03 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT
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 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area is $36,700 a year, or $17.65 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,300 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area earn at least $47,300 a year. The top 25% earn $43,370 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,000 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $34,110 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT?
About 4,600 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area, not counting the self-employed.