Watertown-Fort Drum, NY · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY

In the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $35,500 ($17.07/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $28,000/year and the 90th was $44,100/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and New York tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $29,384 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 87.7 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$35,500$17.07 per hour · $2,958 monthly
10th Percentile$28,000$13.46/hr base
25th Percentile$30,100$14.47/hr base
75th Percentile$37,800$18.17/hr base
90th Percentile$44,100$21.20/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

$35,500
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$35,500
Net 83%
Fed 6%
NY 4%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$29,384After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,449Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,130Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate17.2%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,080 / yr
New York state income tax$1,320 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,716 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY

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 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (NY)
10th Percentile$13.46/hr$2,333$28,000$23,753
25th Percentile$14.47/hr$2,508$30,100$25,337
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$17.07/hr$2,958$35,500$29,384
75th Percentile$18.17/hr$3,150$37,800$31,108
90th Percentile$21.20/hr$3,675$44,100$35,830

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$35,500 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$66,301Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index87.712.3% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio53.5%of area median income

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY is $35,500, which equates to approximately $2,958 per month or $17.07 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY is $17.07 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $13.46/hour and one in ten earned more than $21.20/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY span from $28,000 at the 10th percentile to $30,100 at the 25th, $37,800 at the 75th, and $44,100 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?

On a median gross salary of $35,500, an estimated $29,384 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,130 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in New York in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $6,116 (an effective rate of 17.2%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?

On the median annual salary of $35,500, gross monthly income is $2,958. After federal, FICA, and New York state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,449 per month (or $1,130 every two weeks).

Is $35,500 a good salary in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?

At $35,500, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 53.5% of the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY median household income ($66,301). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 87.7, making regional consumer goods and services 12.3% cheaper than the U.S. average.