Fort Collins-Loveland, CO · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO

In the Fort Collins-Loveland, CO metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $40,800 ($19.62/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $33,900/year and the 90th was $48,700/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Colorado tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $33,876 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 101.1 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$40,800$19.62 per hour · $3,400 monthly
10th Percentile$33,900$16.30/hr base
25th Percentile$36,200$17.40/hr base
75th Percentile$44,900$21.59/hr base
90th Percentile$48,700$23.41/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

$40,800
$15,000$85,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$40,800
Net 83%
Fed 7%
CO 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$33,876After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,823Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,303Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate17%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,716 / yr
Colorado state income tax$1,087 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,121 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO

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 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (CO)
10th Percentile$16.30/hr$2,825$33,900$28,635
25th Percentile$17.40/hr$3,017$36,200$30,382
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$19.62/hr$3,400$40,800$33,876
75th Percentile$21.59/hr$3,742$44,900$36,990
90th Percentile$23.41/hr$4,058$48,700$39,876

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$40,800 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$93,765Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index101.11.1% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio43.5%of area median income

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO is $40,800, which equates to approximately $3,400 per month or $19.62 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO is $19.62 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $16.30/hour and one in ten earned more than $23.41/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO span from $33,900 at the 10th percentile to $36,200 at the 25th, $44,900 at the 75th, and $48,700 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO?

On a median gross salary of $40,800, an estimated $33,876 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,303 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Colorado in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $6,924 (an effective rate of 17%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO?

On the median annual salary of $40,800, gross monthly income is $3,400. After federal, FICA, and Colorado state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,823 per month (or $1,303 every two weeks).

Is $40,800 a good salary in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO?

At $40,800, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 43.5% of the Fort Collins-Loveland, CO median household income ($93,765). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 101.1, making regional consumer goods and services 1.1% more expensive than the U.S. average.