Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we identified the following details of grill cook salaries across the United States:
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Washington boasts the highest grill cook salary at $40,257.
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Mississippi has the lowest grill cook salary at $22,405.
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The national average salary for grill cooks stands at $31,895.
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Nationally, the hourly pay for grill cooks is $15.33.
For further details, refer to our specific methodology.
Background
According to recent surveys, salary remains the top priority for job seekers, including those in culinary roles. Understanding how much grill cooks earn in various locations is crucial.
While salaries can differ based on individual experience and local market conditions, these averages provide a helpful benchmark for what you can expect to earn in your state.
As of 2026, Washington continues to lead with the best salary for grill cooks.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states for grill cook salaries:
Let’s dive deeper into how these salaries were determined and provide a comprehensive ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Grill Cooks By State
| Rank | State | Average Grill Cook Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $40,257 | $32,000 | $50,000 |
| 2 | Oregon | $37,787 | $30,000 | $47,000 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $37,360 | $29,000 | $46,000 |
| 4 | California | $36,916 | $29,000 | $46,000 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $36,320 | $29,000 | $45,000 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $35,735 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| 7 | Alaska | $35,723 | $30,000 | $42,000 |
| 8 | Hawaii | $35,506 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| 9 | Vermont | $34,779 | $28,000 | $42,000 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $34,723 | $27,000 | $43,000 |
| 11 | New York | $34,483 | $27,000 | $43,000 |
| 12 | Illinois | $34,342 | $27,000 | $43,000 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $34,178 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 14 | Colorado | $33,766 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $33,577 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $33,292 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 17 | Maine | $33,190 | $26,000 | $40,000 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $32,563 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 19 | Idaho | $31,840 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 20 | Delaware | $31,618 | $24,000 | $40,000 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $31,187 | $24,000 | $39,000 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $31,039 | $24,000 | $39,000 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $30,811 | $24,000 | $39,000 |
| 24 | Maryland | $30,491 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 25 | Nevada | $30,464 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 26 | Arizona | $30,388 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 27 | Michigan | $30,315 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 28 | Utah | $30,158 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 29 | Montana | $29,733 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 30 | Virginia | $29,105 | $22,000 | $37,000 |
| 31 | Iowa | $29,056 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 32 | Indiana | $28,776 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 33 | Ohio | $28,511 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $28,382 | $22,000 | $35,000 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $27,553 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 36 | Missouri | $27,340 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $26,903 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 38 | Florida | $26,827 | $20,000 | $34,000 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $26,699 | $20,000 | $34,000 |
| 40 | Georgia | $26,659 | $20,000 | $34,000 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $26,629 | $20,000 | $34,000 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $26,357 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $26,141 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $25,773 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 45 | Texas | $25,580 | $19,000 | $33,000 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $24,244 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 47 | Alabama | $24,229 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $24,044 | $18,000 | $30,000 |
| 49 | Kansas | $23,134 | $18,000 | $29,000 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $22,405 | $17,000 | $28,000 |
Methodology: Grill Cook Salary By State
To better understand grill cook pay by state, Zippia has aggregated data from various sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data is then supplemented by actual salary listings from job postings. The data science team computes a weighted average of these inputs to determine the average pay for grill cooks in each state.
We analyzed annual salary data for grill cooks based on these estimates, ranking each state according to its average salary.
Grill Cook Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for grill cooks?
The highest-paid state for grill cooks is Washington, with an average salary of $40,257 per year.
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What city pays grill cooks the most?
Seattle, WA pays grill cooks the most, with an average salary of $40,401 per year.
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What is the worst state for grill cooks?
The lowest-paying state for grill cooks is Mississippi, with an average salary of $22,405 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.
