SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Eastern Washington
Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Eastern Washington, WA comes to $45,250 a year, ahead of the national median of $37,390 by 21.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Eastern Washington, WA comes to $45,250 a year, ahead of the national median of $37,390 by 21.0%. Pay ranges from under $36,080 at the tenth percentile to more than $57,580 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $37,880 to $48,520.
The area has 1,080 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.09 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Seattle records the highest median at $47,730. Of the 358 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 302nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,080 | −3.5% |
| 25th | $37,880 | +1.3% |
| Median (50th) | $45,250 | +21.0% |
| 75th | $48,520 | +29.8% |
| 90th | $57,580 | +54.0% |
| Mean | $44,900 | +20.1% |
Other metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle | $47,730 | 20,850 | |
| 2 | Bremerton | $46,460 | 1,090 | |
| 3 | Mount Vernon | $46,450 | 590 | |
| 4 | Bellingham | $45,370 | 1,090 | |
| 5 | Kennewick | $45,280 | 1,150 | |
| 6 | Longview | $44,980 | 310 | |
| 7 | Olympia | $44,960 | 1,090 | |
| 8 | Wenatchee | $44,550 | 780 | |
| 9 | Yakima | $44,390 | 680 | |
| 10 | Spokane | $44,230 | 2,490 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Eastern Washington run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $45,250 buys what $42,290 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 13.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$45,250as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$42,290US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $45,250 a year, 21.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,080 to $57,580 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,080 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Seattle, at $47,730.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Eastern Washington, WA?
The median annual wage is $45,250, or $21.76 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 Eastern Washington, WA is 21.0% 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 Eastern Washington, WA earns more than $57,580 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,080 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 Seattle, at $47,730 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,080 jobs in this occupation in Eastern Washington, WA. 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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