SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Western Washington
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Western Washington, WA is $45,120 per year, 20.7% above the national median of $37,390.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Western Washington, WA is $45,120 per year, 20.7% above the national median of $37,390. Pay ranges from under $37,160 at the tenth percentile to more than $55,640 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $38,130 to $47,510.
Employment stands at 1,690, or 13.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Seattle leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $47,730. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 294th of 355 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,160 | −0.6% |
| 25th | $38,130 | +2.0% |
| Median (50th) | $45,120 | +20.7% |
| 75th | $47,510 | +27.1% |
| 90th | $55,640 | +48.8% |
| Mean | $44,440 | +18.9% |
Other metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle | $47,730 | 20,850 | |
| 2 | Bremerton | $46,460 | 1,090 | |
| 3 | Mount Vernon | $46,450 | 590 | |
| 4 | Bellingham | $45,370 | 1,090 | |
| 5 | Kennewick | $45,280 | 1,150 | |
| 6 | Longview | $44,980 | 310 | |
| 7 | Olympia | $44,960 | 1,090 | |
| 8 | Wenatchee | $44,550 | 780 | |
| 9 | Yakima | $44,390 | 680 | |
| 10 | Spokane | $44,230 | 2,490 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Western Washington run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $45,120 buys what $42,168 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 12.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$45,120as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$42,168US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $45,120 a year, 20.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,160 to $55,640 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,690 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Seattle, at $47,730.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Western Washington, WA?
The median annual wage is $45,120, or $21.69 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 Western Washington, WA is 20.7% 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 Western Washington, WA earns more than $55,640 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,160 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 Seattle, at $47,730 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,690 jobs in this occupation in Western Washington, WA. 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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