Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
Washington leads at $46,800 a year. Pay is not adjusted for local prices; see each page for the cost-of-living view.
| Place | Median | 25th–75th |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 | $42,770–$49,540 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 | $39,960–$47,890 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 | $38,370–$49,040 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 | $37,260–$55,550 |
| Vermont | $45,390 | $37,470–$47,340 |
| Maine | $45,290 | $39,800–$47,720 |
| California | $44,880 | $38,590–$47,330 |
| New York | $43,680 | $37,100–$46,530 |
| Oregon | $43,100 | $38,030–$47,730 |
| Colorado | $41,600 | $36,930–$45,740 |
| New Hampshire | $40,200 | $37,190–$46,850 |
| Alaska | $40,140 | $36,820–$44,110 |
| Connecticut | $39,480 | $37,060–$45,950 |
| Arizona | $38,670 | $36,200–$44,870 |
| Nevada | $38,610 | $36,530–$47,170 |
| Minnesota | $38,590 | $36,020–$45,360 |
| New Jersey | $38,460 | $35,880–$45,600 |
| Montana | $38,060 | $35,100–$43,910 |
| Delaware | $37,840 | $35,410–$44,960 |
| Maryland | $37,820 | $36,520–$43,980 |
| Illinois | $37,580 | $35,360–$45,010 |
| Nebraska | $37,030 | $33,800–$42,510 |
| Florida | $37,020 | $35,050–$42,850 |
| Michigan | $36,980 | $34,770–$42,850 |
| Missouri | $36,940 | $30,790–$42,720 |
| Wyoming | $36,830 | $29,440–$43,060 |
| Virginia | $36,750 | $33,270–$42,990 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,580 | $29,890–$39,710 |
| Wisconsin | $36,550 | $31,240–$40,280 |
| Rhode Island | $36,510 | $34,610–$45,650 |
| Utah | $36,490 | $31,200–$41,950 |
| North Dakota | $36,470 | $30,410–$38,110 |
| Idaho | $36,440 | $29,850–$42,450 |
| Tennessee | $36,420 | $30,610–$40,740 |
| South Dakota | $36,220 | $33,040–$38,910 |
| Georgia | $35,940 | $29,190–$37,840 |
| South Carolina | $35,740 | $30,470–$38,560 |
| Iowa | $35,670 | $30,360–$38,180 |
| Ohio | $35,540 | $29,520–$37,920 |
| North Carolina | $35,400 | $29,690–$38,170 |
| Indiana | $35,170 | $28,650–$37,590 |
| Kansas | $35,130 | $29,690–$37,440 |
| New Mexico | $35,020 | $30,220–$37,320 |
| Texas | $34,760 | $28,540–$37,030 |
| Kentucky | $34,640 | $28,850–$37,200 |
| Alabama | $32,180 | $28,930–$36,220 |
| Oklahoma | $31,720 | $28,670–$37,470 |
| Arkansas | $30,180 | $28,470–$35,410 |
| West Virginia | $29,590 | $26,790–$35,170 |
| Mississippi | $29,560 | $26,000–$33,940 |
| Louisiana | $29,050 | $25,860–$35,960 |
Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025.