SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Delaware
Delaware · 1 metro areas compared
At $37,840, median pay for Cooks, Restaurant in Delaware tracks the national median of $37,390 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $37,840, median pay for Cooks, Restaurant in Delaware tracks the national median of $37,390 closely. Pay ranges from under $31,250 at the tenth percentile to more than $46,940 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $35,410 to $44,960.
Employment stands at 5,280, or 10.9 jobs per thousand held locally. Delaware ranks number 19th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Dover records the highest median at $35,570. Of the 517 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 445th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,250 | −16.4% |
| 25th | $35,410 | −5.3% |
| Median (50th) | $37,840 | +1.2% |
| 75th | $44,960 | +20.2% |
| 90th | $46,940 | +25.5% |
| Mean | $39,190 | +4.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Delaware
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dover | $35,570 | 590 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Delaware sit close to the national average, so $37,840 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$37,840as reported by BLSLocal price level
99.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$37,916US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $37,840 a year, 1.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,250 to $46,940 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 5,280 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 19th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Dover, at $35,570.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Delaware?
The median annual wage is $37,840, or $18.19 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 Delaware is 1.2% 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 Delaware earns more than $46,940 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,250 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 Dover, at $35,570 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 5,280 jobs in this occupation in Delaware. 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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