SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Boulder
Boulder, CO · 6 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Boulder, CO comes to $42,220 a year, ahead of the national median of $37,390 by 12.9%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Boulder, CO comes to $42,220 a year, ahead of the national median of $37,390 by 12.9%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $37,500 and $46,350. The lowest tenth earn under $34,340, while the highest tenth earn more than $54,600.
Employment stands at 2,190, or 11.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Denver leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $44,370. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 379th of 414 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,340 | −8.2% |
| 25th | $37,500 | +0.3% |
| Median (50th) | $42,220 | +12.9% |
| 75th | $46,350 | +24.0% |
| 90th | $54,600 | +46.0% |
| Mean | $42,970 | +14.9% |
Other metro areas in Colorado
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver | $44,370 | 15,410 | |
| 2 | Fort Collins | $38,370 | 1,930 | |
| 3 | Colorado Springs | $38,000 | 3,330 | |
| 4 | Greeley | $36,900 | 1,000 | |
| 5 | Grand Junction | $36,420 | 690 | |
| 6 | Pueblo | $35,920 | 580 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Boulder run 3.1% above the national average, so the median of $42,220 buys what $40,951 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 9.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$42,220as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$40,951US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $42,220 a year, 12.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,340 to $54,600 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,190 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Denver, at $44,370.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Boulder, CO?
The median annual wage is $42,220, or $20.30 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 $37,390, so pay in Boulder, CO is 12.9% 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 Boulder, CO earns more than $54,600 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,340 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 $44,370 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,190 jobs in this occupation in Boulder, CO. 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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