Worcester, MA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Worcester, MA

In the Worcester, MA metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $44,200 ($21.25/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,400/year and the 90th was $56,800/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Massachusetts tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $35,805 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 102.5 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$44,200$21.25 per hour · $3,683 monthly
10th Percentile$35,400$17.02/hr base
25th Percentile$37,200$17.88/hr base
75th Percentile$47,500$22.84/hr base
90th Percentile$56,800$27.31/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

$44,200
$15,000$90,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$44,200
Net 81%
Fed 7%
MA 4%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$35,805After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,984Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,377Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate19%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$3,124 / yr
Massachusetts state income tax$1,890 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,381 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Worcester, MA

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 Worcester, MA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (MA)
10th Percentile$17.02/hr$2,950$35,400$29,174
25th Percentile$17.88/hr$3,100$37,200$30,530
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$21.25/hr$3,683$44,200$35,805
75th Percentile$22.84/hr$3,958$47,500$38,291
90th Percentile$27.31/hr$4,733$56,800$45,299

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Worcester, MA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$44,200 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$95,939Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index102.52.5% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio46.1%of area median income

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Worcester, MA

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Worcester, MA?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Worcester, MA is $44,200, which equates to approximately $3,683 per month or $21.25 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Worcester, MA?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Worcester, MA is $21.25 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $17.02/hour and one in ten earned more than $27.31/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Worcester, MA?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Worcester, MA span from $35,400 at the 10th percentile to $37,200 at the 25th, $47,500 at the 75th, and $56,800 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Worcester, MA?

On a median gross salary of $44,200, an estimated $35,805 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,377 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Massachusetts in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $8,395 (an effective rate of 19%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Worcester, MA?

On the median annual salary of $44,200, gross monthly income is $3,683. After federal, FICA, and Massachusetts state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,984 per month (or $1,377 every two weeks).

Is $44,200 a good salary in Worcester, MA?

At $44,200, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 46.1% of the Worcester, MA median household income ($95,939). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 102.5, making regional consumer goods and services 2.5% more expensive than the U.S. average.