SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Pueblo
Pueblo, CO · 6 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Pueblo, CO is $35,920 per year, close to the national median of $37,390 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Pueblo, CO is $35,920 per year, close to the national median of $37,390 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $35,060 and $41,580. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $31,220 and the ninetieth at $44,990.
Employment stands at 580, or 9.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Denver records the highest median at $44,370. Of the 259 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 236th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,220 | −16.5% |
| 25th | $35,060 | −6.2% |
| Median (50th) | $35,920 | −3.9% |
| 75th | $41,580 | +11.2% |
| 90th | $44,990 | +20.3% |
| Mean | $38,490 | +2.9% |
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 | Grand Junction | $36,420 | 690 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Pueblo run 3.1% above the national average, so the median of $35,920 buys what $34,840 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 6.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$35,920as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$34,840US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $35,920 a year, 3.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,220 to $44,990 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 580 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 Pueblo, CO?
The median annual wage is $35,920, or $17.27 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 Pueblo, CO is 3.9% 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 Pueblo, CO earns more than $44,990 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,220 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 Denver, at $44,370 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 580 jobs in this occupation in Pueblo, 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.
Explore related data