Grand Island, NE · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Grand Island, NE

In the Grand Island, NE metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $35,600 ($17.12/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,600/year and the 90th was $43,200/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Nebraska tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $30,044 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 86.7 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$35,600$17.12 per hour · $2,967 monthly
10th Percentile$27,600$13.27/hr base
25th Percentile$32,500$15.63/hr base
75th Percentile$40,900$19.66/hr base
90th Percentile$43,200$20.77/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

$35,600
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$35,600
Net 84%
Fed 6%
NE 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$30,044After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,504Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,156Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.6%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,092 / yr
Nebraska state income tax$740 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,723 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Grand Island, NE

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 Grand Island, NE Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (NE)
10th Percentile$13.27/hr$2,300$27,600$23,900
25th Percentile$15.63/hr$2,708$32,500$27,683
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$17.12/hr$2,967$35,600$30,044
75th Percentile$19.66/hr$3,408$40,900$34,062
90th Percentile$20.77/hr$3,600$43,200$35,805

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Grand Island, NE

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$35,600 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$69,704Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index86.713.3% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio51.1%of area median income

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Grand Island, NE

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Grand Island, NE?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Grand Island, NE is $35,600, which equates to approximately $2,967 per month or $17.12 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Grand Island, NE?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Grand Island, NE is $17.12 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $13.27/hour and one in ten earned more than $20.77/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Grand Island, NE?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Grand Island, NE span from $27,600 at the 10th percentile to $32,500 at the 25th, $40,900 at the 75th, and $43,200 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Grand Island, NE?

On a median gross salary of $35,600, an estimated $30,044 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,156 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Nebraska in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,556 (an effective rate of 15.6%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Grand Island, NE?

On the median annual salary of $35,600, gross monthly income is $2,967. After federal, FICA, and Nebraska state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,504 per month (or $1,156 every two weeks).

Is $35,600 a good salary in Grand Island, NE?

At $35,600, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 51.1% of the Grand Island, NE median household income ($69,704). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 86.7, making regional consumer goods and services 13.3% cheaper than the U.S. average.