Cooks, Restaurant salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median of $47,730 a year ($22.95 an hour), based on BLS data for 20,850 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,660 for the top 10%. That is 28% higher than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 2% higher than the Washington statewide median of $46,800. There are 10.0 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $49,000, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,360 | $18.44 |
| 25th percentile | $45,730 | $21.98 |
| Median | $47,730 | $22.95 |
| 75th percentile | $53,060 | $25.51 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,660 | $28.20 |
| Average (mean) | $49,000 | $23.56 |
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 | $3,977.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,988.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,835.77 |
| Weekly | $917.88 |
| Hourly | $22.95 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $47,730 salary, see how much house you can afford in Washington 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $46,460 | 1,090 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $46,450 | 590 |
| Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | 1,090 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $45,280 | 1,150 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $45,200 | 13,020 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $44,980 | 310 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $44,960 | 1,090 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $44,550 | 780 |
| Yakima, WA | $44,390 | 680 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $44,230 | 2,490 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $44,050 | 260 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $36,410 | 220 |
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 Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $43,830 | $21.07 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $51,530 | $24.77 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $44,030 | $21.17 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $50,870 | $24.46 |
| Cooks, All Other | $53,910 | $25.92 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $39,150 | $18.82 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $57,280 | $27.54 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $61,610 | $29.62 |
| Bartender | $58,180 | $27.97 |
| Dishwasher | $42,750 | $20.55 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $38,430 | $18.48 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $40,640 | $19.54 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $80,330 | $38.62 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $45,120 | $21.69 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $47,730 a year, or $22.95 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn at least $58,660 a year. The top 25% earn $53,060 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,360 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $45,730 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
About 20,850 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.