Research Summary. Following thorough analysis by the Zippia data science team, we have compiled updated figures on cook salaries by state for 2026 in the United States:
-
Hawaii offers the highest cook salary at $44,295
-
Mississippi has the lowest cook salary, recorded at $21,950
-
The national average salary for cooks is $31,803
-
The national hourly wage for cooks is $15.29
For more details, you can review the specific methodology.
Background
When considering a career, salary remains a top priority for most individuals. A critical question is: how much do cooks earn in my area?
Numerous factors influence individual earnings, yet substantial data exists regarding average salaries for cooks by state, categorized by seniority level. While your local salary may vary slightly from state averages, these figures provide a solid benchmark for expectations.
As of 2026, Hawaii stands out as the state with the highest salary for cooks.
Here’s a brief overview of the top ten states for cook salaries:
Now, let’s delve into the data and see the complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Cooks By State
| Rank | State | Average Cook Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $44,295 | $33,000 | $57,000 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $37,026 | $29,000 | $46,000 |
| 3 | Washington | $36,804 | $28,000 | $46,000 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $36,549 | $29,000 | $45,000 |
| 5 | New York | $36,236 | $28,000 | $45,000 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $35,991 | $28,000 | $45,000 |
| 7 | California | $35,925 | $27,000 | $46,000 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $35,492 | $28,000 | $43,000 |
| 9 | Vermont | $35,225 | $28,000 | $43,000 |
| 10 | Oregon | $33,951 | $26,000 | $43,000 |
| 11 | Maine | $33,797 | $27,000 | $41,000 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $33,535 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $33,277 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 14 | Nevada | $33,011 | $25,000 | $42,000 |
| 15 | Delaware | $32,066 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 16 | Maryland | $31,887 | $24,000 | $40,000 |
| 17 | Illinois | $31,121 | $24,000 | $39,000 |
| 18 | Colorado | $31,042 | $24,000 | $39,000 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $30,693 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 20 | Arizona | $30,480 | $23,000 | $39,000 |
| 21 | Michigan | $30,431 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 22 | Virginia | $29,793 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $29,754 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 24 | Alaska | $29,681 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $29,602 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 26 | Utah | $28,848 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 27 | Florida | $28,804 | $21,000 | $37,000 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $28,688 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 29 | Ohio | $28,477 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 30 | Idaho | $28,114 | $22,000 | $35,000 |
| 31 | Iowa | $27,561 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $27,476 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $27,461 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $27,257 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $27,029 | $20,000 | $34,000 |
| 36 | Indiana | $26,872 | $20,000 | $34,000 |
| 37 | Georgia | $26,650 | $20,000 | $34,000 |
| 38 | Montana | $26,577 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $26,048 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $25,967 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 41 | Missouri | $25,785 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 42 | Texas | $25,763 | $19,000 | $33,000 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $25,289 | $19,000 | $32,000 |
| 44 | Alabama | $24,383 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $23,591 | $18,000 | $30,000 |
| 46 | Kansas | $23,414 | $18,000 | $30,000 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $23,280 | $17,000 | $30,000 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $23,234 | $18,000 | $29,000 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $23,081 | $17,000 | $29,000 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $21,950 | $16,000 | $28,000 |
Methodology: Cook Salary By State
To accurately assess cook salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from diverse sources including the BLS, FLC, and OPM, complemented by actual salary listings from job postings. The data science team then computes a weighted average of these inputs to derive average salaries for cooks by state.
We evaluated the average annual salary figures for cooks based on these estimates, ranking each state according to this criterion, with the top salary state recognized as the one with the highest average cook salary.
Cook Salary By State FAQs
-
What is the highest-paid state for cooks?
The highest-paid state for cooks is Hawaii, with an average salary of $44,295 per year.
-
What city pays cooks the most?
Seattle, WA offers the highest salary for cooks, averaging $37,003 annually.
-
What is the worst state for cooks?
The lowest-paying state for cooks is Mississippi, with an average salary of $21,950 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
