Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

In the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $46,700 ($22.45/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,400/year and the 90th was $60,000/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Massachusetts tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $37,688 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 108.3 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$46,700$22.45 per hour · $3,892 monthly
10th Percentile$37,400$17.98/hr base
25th Percentile$39,300$18.89/hr base
75th Percentile$50,200$24.13/hr base
90th Percentile$60,000$28.85/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$46,700
$15,000$95,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$46,700
Net 81%
Fed 7%
MA 4%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$37,688After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,141Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,450Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate19.3%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$3,424 / yr
Massachusetts state income tax$2,015 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,573 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Cooks, Restaurant in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (MA)
10th Percentile$17.98/hr$3,117$37,400$30,681
25th Percentile$18.89/hr$3,275$39,300$32,113
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$22.45/hr$3,892$46,700$37,688
75th Percentile$24.13/hr$4,183$50,200$40,326
90th Percentile$28.85/hr$5,000$60,000$47,710

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$46,700 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$115,863Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index108.38.3% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio40.3%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Massachusetts:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is $46,700, which equates to approximately $3,892 per month or $22.45 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is $22.45 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $17.98/hour and one in ten earned more than $28.85/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH span from $37,400 at the 10th percentile to $39,300 at the 25th, $50,200 at the 75th, and $60,000 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

On a median gross salary of $46,700, an estimated $37,688 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,450 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Massachusetts in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $9,012 (an effective rate of 19.3%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

On the median annual salary of $46,700, gross monthly income is $3,892. After federal, FICA, and Massachusetts state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,141 per month (or $1,450 every two weeks).

Is $46,700 a good salary in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

At $46,700, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 40.3% of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH median household income ($115,863). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 108.3, making regional consumer goods and services 8.3% more expensive than the U.S. average.