Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
What separates a comfortable Cook salary from a tight one? Usually just a zip code. The national median salary for Cooks in 2026 is $37,244, with entry-level positions averaging $26,816 and senior roles reaching $52,887. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $67,840, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Cook falls within the Hospitality sector, specifically in Food & Hospitality. The typical education path involves No formal requirement. The career outlook? Growing. Work style is kitchen shift-based — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
$41,280 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Cook in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $67,840 — $41,280 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($26,560). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
The salary distribution for Cooks reveals a $26,071 spread from entry to senior. At $37,244, the median sits $43,123 below the national median household income of $80,367. Context matters: this is an individual salary, compared against household income. The P10 floor of $26,816 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $52,887 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
State averages smooth out the extremes — here's what they reveal: The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $63,360 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $26,773. That $36,587 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. The gap between P10 and P90 shows the earning ceiling is high.
A Cook in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $67,840 — $41,280 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($26,560). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The 10th-percentile (entry-level) Cook salary averages $26,816 nationally. That's below the typical median household income, which means early-career earnings depend heavily on location and cost of living.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $26,816 | $37,244 | $52,887 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £13,935 | £19,354 | £27,483 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$21,578 | CA$29,970 | CA$42,557 |
| Australia | 13 | A$24,947 | A$34,648 | A$49,200 |
| Sweden | 24 | 159,540 kr | 221,583 kr | 314,648 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $32,366 | $44,952 | $63,832 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $31,277 | $43,440 | $61,685 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $31,104 | $43,200 | $61,344 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $28,800 | $40,000 | $56,800 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $28,454 | $39,520 | $56,118 |
| Washington | 8 | $27,907 | $38,760 | $55,039 |
| New York | 5 | $26,265 | $36,480 | $51,801 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $26,266 | $36,480 | $51,802 |
| Florida | 22 | $26,067 | $36,204 | $51,409 |
| Colorado | 11 | $25,616 | $35,578 | $50,521 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $25,574 | $35,520 | $50,438 |
| Nevada | 5 | $25,528 | $35,456 | $50,347 |
| Arizona | 12 | $25,402 | $35,280 | $50,098 |
| Oregon | 5 | $25,344 | $35,200 | $49,984 |
| Idaho | 3 | $25,267 | $35,093 | $49,833 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $25,068 | $34,816 | $49,439 |
| Utah | 4 | $24,998 | $34,720 | $49,302 |
| Virginia | 7 | $24,587 | $34,149 | $48,491 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $24,269 | $33,707 | $47,863 |
| Alaska | 1 | $24,192 | $33,600 | $47,712 |
| Illinois | 5 | $23,915 | $33,216 | $47,167 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $23,322 | $32,391 | $45,995 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $23,040 | $32,000 | $45,440 |
| Montana | 1 | $23,040 | $32,000 | $45,440 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $22,963 | $31,893 | $45,288 |
| Texas | 40 | $22,850 | $31,736 | $45,065 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $22,810 | $31,680 | $44,986 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $22,695 | $31,520 | $44,759 |
| Georgia | 6 | $22,618 | $31,413 | $44,607 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $22,579 | $31,360 | $44,531 |
| Kansas | 4 | $22,464 | $31,200 | $44,304 |
| Michigan | 6 | $22,387 | $31,093 | $44,153 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $22,119 | $30,720 | $43,623 |
| Maryland | 1 | $22,118 | $30,720 | $43,622 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $21,888 | $30,400 | $43,168 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $21,888 | $30,400 | $43,168 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $21,312 | $29,600 | $42,032 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $21,197 | $29,440 | $41,805 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $20,909 | $29,040 | $41,237 |
| Missouri | 4 | $20,909 | $29,040 | $41,237 |
| Alabama | 5 | $20,828 | $28,928 | $41,078 |
| Indiana | 3 | $20,506 | $28,480 | $40,442 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $20,506 | $28,480 | $40,442 |
| Iowa | 2 | $20,275 | $28,160 | $39,987 |
| Ohio | 6 | $20,237 | $28,107 | $39,912 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $19,354 | $26,880 | $38,170 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Cook median of $44,952 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($43,440) and Hawaii ($43,200). State averages smooth out the extremes — here's what they reveal: The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $26,880 and $28,160. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($67,840 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $32,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $67,840 | 212 | $32,000 | $43,650 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $63,360 | 198 | $32,000 | $41,094 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $58,880 | 184 | $32,000 | $38,538 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $57,920 | 181 | $32,000 | $37,990 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $56,960 | 178 | $32,000 | $37,443 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $56,640 | 177 | $32,000 | $37,260 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $56,640 | 177 | $32,000 | $37,260 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $55,360 | 173 | $32,000 | $36,530 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $55,360 | 173 | $32,000 | $36,530 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $54,080 | 169 | $32,000 | $35,800 |
The $26,071 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Cook career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Hospitality sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Cooks is $37,244 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $26,816, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $52,887.
The highest-paying city for Cooks is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $67,840. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($67,840), Santa Clara ($63,360), Irvine ($58,880). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Cook salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $26,560. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Cooks (10th percentile) average $26,816 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $48,845. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Cooks average $52,887 nationally — $26,071 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Cooks can earn up to $96,333.
The top-paying states for Cooks are California ($44,952 median), Massachusetts ($43,440 median), Hawaii ($43,200 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Cook involves No formal requirement. The field is in the Hospitality sector (Food & Hospitality), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically kitchen shift-based.
With a national median of $37,244 and representation across 288 metro areas, Cook offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $26,071 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.