SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Grand Junction
Grand Junction, CO · 6 metro areas compared
At $36,420, median pay for Cooks, Restaurant in Grand Junction, CO tracks the national median of $37,390 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $36,420, median pay for Cooks, Restaurant in Grand Junction, CO tracks the national median of $37,390 closely. Pay ranges from under $31,030 at the tenth percentile to more than $45,810 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $34,630 to $41,530.
Employment stands at 690, or 10.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Denver records the highest median at $44,370. Of the 286 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 261st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,030 | −17.0% |
| 25th | $34,630 | −7.4% |
| Median (50th) | $36,420 | −2.6% |
| 75th | $41,530 | +11.1% |
| 90th | $45,810 | +22.5% |
| Mean | $38,310 | +2.5% |
Other metro areas in Colorado
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver | $44,370 | 15,410 | |
| 2 | Boulder | $42,220 | 2,190 | |
| 3 | Fort Collins | $38,370 | 1,930 | |
| 4 | Colorado Springs | $38,000 | 3,330 | |
| 5 | Greeley | $36,900 | 1,000 | |
| 6 | Pueblo | $35,920 | 580 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Grand Junction run 3.1% above the national average, so the median of $36,420 buys what $35,325 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 5.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,420as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$35,325US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,420 a year, 2.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,030 to $45,810 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 690 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 Grand Junction, CO?
The median annual wage is $36,420, or $17.51 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 Grand Junction, CO is 2.6% lower. 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 Grand Junction, CO earns more than $45,810 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,030 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 690 jobs in this occupation in Grand Junction, 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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