Omaha, NE-IA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Omaha, NE-IA

In the Omaha, NE-IA metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $37,400 ($17.98/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $30,000/year and the 90th was $46,600/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Iowa tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $31,462 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 91.9 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$37,400$17.98 per hour · $3,117 monthly
10th Percentile$30,000$14.42/hr base
25th Percentile$31,800$15.29/hr base
75th Percentile$40,000$19.23/hr base
90th Percentile$46,600$22.40/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

$37,400
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$37,400
Net 84%
Fed 6%
IA 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$31,462After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,622Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,210Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.9%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,308 / yr
Iowa state income tax$769 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,861 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Omaha, NE-IA

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 Omaha, NE-IA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (IA)
10th Percentile$14.42/hr$2,500$30,000$25,797
25th Percentile$15.29/hr$2,650$31,800$27,175
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$17.98/hr$3,117$37,400$31,462
75th Percentile$19.23/hr$3,333$40,000$33,452
90th Percentile$22.40/hr$3,883$46,600$38,504

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Omaha, NE-IA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$37,400 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$84,829Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index91.98.1% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio44.1%of area median income

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Omaha, NE-IA

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Omaha, NE-IA?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Omaha, NE-IA is $37,400, which equates to approximately $3,117 per month or $17.98 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Omaha, NE-IA?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Omaha, NE-IA is $17.98 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $14.42/hour and one in ten earned more than $22.40/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Omaha, NE-IA?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Omaha, NE-IA span from $30,000 at the 10th percentile to $31,800 at the 25th, $40,000 at the 75th, and $46,600 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Omaha, NE-IA?

On a median gross salary of $37,400, an estimated $31,462 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,210 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Iowa in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,939 (an effective rate of 15.9%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Omaha, NE-IA?

On the median annual salary of $37,400, gross monthly income is $3,117. After federal, FICA, and Iowa state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,622 per month (or $1,210 every two weeks).

Is $37,400 a good salary in Omaha, NE-IA?

At $37,400, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 44.1% of the Omaha, NE-IA median household income ($84,829). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 91.9, making regional consumer goods and services 8.1% cheaper than the U.S. average.