SOC 35-2019 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, All Other — Colorado
Colorado · 1 metro areas compared
In Colorado the median wage for Cooks, All Other is $43,490 a year, which is 15.4% higher than the national figure of $37,690.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Colorado the median wage for Cooks, All Other is $43,490 a year, which is 15.4% higher than the national figure of $37,690. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $37,510 and $49,780. The lowest tenth earn under $30,800, while the highest tenth earn more than $49,780.
The area has 100 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.27 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Colorado ranks number 8th out of 33 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Denver records the highest median at $49,780. Of the 738 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 655th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,800 | −18.3% |
| 25th | $37,510 | −0.5% |
| Median (50th) | $43,490 | +15.4% |
| 75th | $49,780 | +32.1% |
| 90th | $49,780 | +32.1% |
| Mean | $42,530 | +12.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Colorado
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver | $49,780 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Colorado run 3.1% above the national average, so the median of $43,490 buys what $42,182 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 11.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$43,490as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$42,182US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $43,490 a year, 15.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $30,800 to $49,780 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 100 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 8th of 33 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Denver, at $49,780.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, All Other in Colorado?
The median annual wage is $43,490, or $20.91 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $37,690, so pay in Colorado is 15.4% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Colorado earns more than $49,780 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $30,800 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Denver, at $49,780 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 100 jobs in this occupation in Colorado. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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