Cooks, Restaurant salary in Urban Honolulu, HI
Cooks, Restaurant in the Urban Honolulu, HI metro area earn a median of $42,450 a year ($20.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,960 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,550 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 7% lower than the Hawaii statewide median of $45,420. There are 16 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $44,620, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Urban Honolulu, HI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,270 | $14.55 |
| 25th percentile | $36,800 | $17.69 |
| Median | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| 75th percentile | $47,160 | $22.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,550 | $30.07 |
| Average (mean) | $44,620 | $21.45 |
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 | $3,537.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,768.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,632.69 |
| Weekly | $816.35 |
| Hourly | $20.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $42,450 salary, see how much house you can afford in Hawaii 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $49,560 | 1,770 |
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 Hawaii statewide figures.
Related jobs in Urban Honolulu, HI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $37,300 | $17.94 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,780 | $22.49 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $40,860 | $19.65 |
| Cooks, All Other | $39,870 | $19.17 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,120 | $14.00 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,080 | $16.87 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $60,250 | $28.96 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| Dishwasher | $36,400 | $17.50 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $50,200 | $24.14 |
| Bartender | $75,340 | $36.22 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $47,110 | $22.65 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $74,380 | $35.76 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,650 | $17.62 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Urban Honolulu, HI
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 Urban Honolulu, HI?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Urban Honolulu, HI metro area is $42,450 a year, or $20.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Urban Honolulu, HI?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Urban Honolulu, HI metro area earn at least $62,550 a year. The top 25% earn $47,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Urban Honolulu, HI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,270 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $36,800 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Urban Honolulu, HI?
About 6,960 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Urban Honolulu, HI metro area, not counting the self-employed.