SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Massachusetts
Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area · 6 metro areas compared
In Massachusetts, MA the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant reaches $47,480 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Massachusetts, MA the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant reaches $47,480 a year. That is 27.0% more than the national median of $37,390. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $39,240 and $49,580. The lowest tenth earn under $38,020, while the highest tenth earn more than $59,570.
Employment stands at 540, or 13.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Barnstable Town leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $46,930. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 160th of 206 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,020 | +1.7% |
| 25th | $39,240 | +4.9% |
| Median (50th) | $47,480 | +27.0% |
| 75th | $49,580 | +32.6% |
| 90th | $59,570 | +59.3% |
| Mean | $46,820 | +25.2% |
Other metro areas in Massachusetts
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barnstable Town | $46,930 | 1,760 | |
| 2 | Boston | $45,830 | 22,900 | |
| 3 | Amherst Town | $44,680 | 540 | |
| 4 | Worcester | $44,250 | 2,490 | |
| 5 | Pittsfield | $43,970 | 630 | |
| 6 | Springfield | $39,970 | 1,410 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Massachusetts run 5.8% above the national average, so the median of $47,480 buys what $44,877 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 20.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$47,480as reported by BLSLocal price level
105.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$44,877US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $47,480 a year, 27.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,020 to $59,570 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 540 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Barnstable Town, at $46,930.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Massachusetts, MA?
The median annual wage is $47,480, or $22.83 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 Massachusetts, MA is 27.0% 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 Massachusetts, MA earns more than $59,570 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,020 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 Barnstable Town, at $46,930 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 540 jobs in this occupation in Massachusetts, MA. 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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