SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — New Jersey
New Jersey · 3 metro areas compared
At $38,460, median pay for Cooks, Restaurant in New Jersey tracks the national median of $37,390 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $38,460, median pay for Cooks, Restaurant in New Jersey tracks the national median of $37,390 closely. Pay ranges from under $32,220 at the tenth percentile to more than $50,010 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $35,880 to $45,600.
The area has 28,800 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.74 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. New Jersey ranks number 17th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Atlantic City records the highest median at $40,250. Of the 736 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 675th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,220 | −13.8% |
| 25th | $35,880 | −4.0% |
| Median (50th) | $38,460 | +2.9% |
| 75th | $45,600 | +22.0% |
| 90th | $50,010 | +33.8% |
| Mean | $40,770 | +9.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in New Jersey
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlantic City | $40,250 | 3,370 | |
| 2 | Trenton | $38,400 | 1,020 | |
| 3 | Vineland | $36,890 | 260 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New Jersey run 8.8% above the national average, so the median of $38,460 buys what $35,349 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
$38,460as reported by BLSLocal price level
108.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$35,349US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $38,460 a year, 2.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $32,220 to $50,010 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 28,800 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 17th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Atlantic City, at $40,250.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in New Jersey?
The median annual wage is $38,460, or $18.49 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 New Jersey is 2.9% 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 New Jersey earns more than $50,010 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $32,220 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 Atlantic City, at $40,250 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 28,800 jobs in this occupation in New Jersey. 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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