New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

In the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $39,800 ($19.13/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $33,300/year and the 90th was $51,700/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and New Jersey tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $33,484 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 112.6 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$39,800$19.13 per hour · $3,317 monthly
10th Percentile$33,300$16.01/hr base
25th Percentile$37,100$17.84/hr base
75th Percentile$47,200$22.69/hr base
90th Percentile$51,700$24.86/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

$39,800
$15,000$80,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$39,800
Net 84%
Fed 7%
NJ 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$33,484After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,790Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,288Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.9%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,596 / yr
New Jersey state income tax$676 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,045 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

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 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (NJ)
10th Percentile$16.01/hr$2,775$33,300$28,441
25th Percentile$17.84/hr$3,092$37,100$31,409
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$19.13/hr$3,317$39,800$33,484
75th Percentile$22.69/hr$3,933$47,200$39,045
90th Percentile$24.86/hr$4,308$51,700$42,412

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$39,800 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$99,155Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index112.612.6% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio40.1%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in New Jersey:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ is $39,800, which equates to approximately $3,317 per month or $19.13 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ is $19.13 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $16.01/hour and one in ten earned more than $24.86/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ span from $33,300 at the 10th percentile to $37,100 at the 25th, $47,200 at the 75th, and $51,700 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?

On a median gross salary of $39,800, an estimated $33,484 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,288 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in New Jersey in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $6,316 (an effective rate of 15.9%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?

On the median annual salary of $39,800, gross monthly income is $3,317. After federal, FICA, and New Jersey state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,790 per month (or $1,288 every two weeks).

Is $39,800 a good salary in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?

At $39,800, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 40.1% of the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ median household income ($99,155). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 112.6, making regional consumer goods and services 12.6% more expensive than the U.S. average.