SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Utah
Utah · 5 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $36,490 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $37,390.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $36,490 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $37,390. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $31,200 and $41,950. The lowest tenth earn under $28,800, while the highest tenth earn more than $46,580.
The area has 10,520 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 6.1 of every thousand jobs. Utah ranks number 31st out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Salt Lake City records the highest median at $36,700. Of the 695 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 641st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,800 | −23.0% |
| 25th | $31,200 | −16.6% |
| Median (50th) | $36,490 | −2.4% |
| 75th | $41,950 | +12.2% |
| 90th | $46,580 | +24.6% |
| Mean | $37,340 | −0.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Utah
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salt Lake City | $36,700 | 4,600 | |
| 2 | Provo | $36,540 | 1,400 | |
| 3 | Ogden | $36,430 | 1,340 | |
| 4 | St. George | $35,590 | 840 | |
| 5 | Logan | $35,210 | 360 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Utah sit close to the national average, so $36,490 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$36,490as reported by BLSLocal price level
98.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$36,896US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,490 a year, 2.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $28,800 to $46,580 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 10,520 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 31st of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Salt Lake City, at $36,700.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Utah?
The median annual wage is $36,490, or $17.55 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 Utah is 2.4% 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 Utah earns more than $46,580 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $28,800 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 Salt Lake City, at $36,700 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 10,520 jobs in this occupation in Utah. 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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