Cooks, Restaurant salary in San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR
Cooks, Restaurant in the San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR metro area earn a median of $25,500 a year ($12.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,210 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $30,090 for the top 10%. That is 32% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 3% higher than the Puerto Rico statewide median of $24,650. There are 10 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $26,710, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,840 | $10.50 |
| 25th percentile | $23,560 | $11.33 |
| Median | $25,500 | $12.26 |
| 75th percentile | $28,150 | $13.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $30,090 | $14.47 |
| Average (mean) | $26,710 | $12.84 |
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 | $2,125 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,062.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $980.77 |
| Weekly | $490.38 |
| Hourly | $12.26 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $25,500 salary, see how much house you can afford 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Arecibo, PR | $23,970 | 380 |
| Guayama, PR | $23,380 | 110 |
| Ponce, PR | $23,350 | 600 |
| Aguadilla, PR | $23,130 | 600 |
| Mayaguez, PR | $23,090 | 570 |
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 Puerto Rico statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $26,260 | $12.62 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $22,800 | $10.96 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $22,680 | $10.90 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $22,580 | $10.86 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,130 | $10.64 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $24,250 | $11.66 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $28,670 | $13.79 |
| Bartender | $22,880 | $11.00 |
| Dishwasher | $23,130 | $11.12 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $22,520 | $10.83 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $22,880 | $11.00 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $35,990 | $17.30 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $21,840 | $10.50 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $23,570 | $11.33 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR
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 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR metro area is $25,500 a year, or $12.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $30,090 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR metro area earn at least $30,090 a year. The top 25% earn $28,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,840 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $23,560 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR?
About 7,210 cooks, restaurant are employed in the San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR metro area, not counting the self-employed.