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Banquet cook salary
Average banquet cook salary
$16.63
Average Banquet Cook Salary
As of October 2025, the average banquet cook earns around $34,599 per year or $17 per hour. This figure represents a typical salary but can fluctuate based on geographic location, the type of establishment, and the cook's experience level. For instance, banquet cooks in metropolitan areas may earn higher wages compared to those in rural settings.
How Much Does a Banquet Cook Make?
Banquet cooks typically start at lower salary thresholds, often around $30,000, but with experience, they can increase their earnings significantly. For those with several years of experience or specialized skills, salaries can exceed $40,000 annually, particularly in high-demand regions or prestigious venues.
Where Can a Banquet Cook Earn More?
Certain states and cities offer higher salary opportunities for banquet cooks. States such as California and New York frequently report the highest wages for this profession, as the demand for skilled culinary professionals remains robust in major urban centers. Additionally, banquet cooks working in luxury hotels or upscale restaurants may see enhanced compensation compared to those in smaller venues.
Banquet Cook Salary by Experience Level
- Entry-Level: $30,000 - $34,000
- Mid-Level: $35,000 - $40,000
- Experienced: $41,000 - $50,000+
Understanding these salary dynamics can help aspiring banquet cooks make informed career decisions and pursue opportunities that align with their financial goals.
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Where can a Banquet Cook earn more?
Banquet cook salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level banquet cook | $25,900 | $12.47 |
| Mid-level banquet cook | $31,300 | $15.06 |
| Senior-level banquet cook | $37,200 | $17.90 |
Banquet cook salary estimates from across the web
Average banquet cook salary by state
The average banquet cook salary in Hawaii, California, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average banquet cook salary states are Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for banquet cooks
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $38,639 | $18.58 |
| 2 | California | $47,015 | $22.60 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $44,162 | $21.23 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $44,853 | $21.56 |
| 5 | Illinois | $41,098 | $19.76 |
| 6 | Hawaii | $49,792 | $23.94 |
| 7 | Idaho | $39,521 | $19.00 |
| 8 | Colorado | $39,510 | $19.00 |
| 9 | Washington | $43,832 | $21.07 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $38,552 | $18.53 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $36,564 | $17.58 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $42,676 | $20.52 |
| 13 | Florida | $36,404 | $17.50 |
| 14 | Missouri | $36,290 | $17.45 |
| 15 | Oregon | $41,873 | $20.13 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $37,771 | $18.16 |
| 17 | Kansas | $35,547 | $17.09 |
| 18 | Alaska | $39,296 | $18.89 |
| 19 | Indiana | $34,337 | $16.51 |
| 20 | Arizona | $34,830 | $16.75 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $36,028 | $17.32 |
| 22 | Utah | $34,761 | $16.71 |
| 23 | Maine | $35,730 | $17.18 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $42,286 | $20.33 |
| 25 | New York | $37,689 | $18.12 |
| 26 | Vermont | $36,932 | $17.76 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $34,643 | $16.66 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $34,762 | $16.71 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $30,983 | $14.90 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $33,656 | $16.18 |
| 31 | Rhode Island | $35,615 | $17.12 |
| 32 | Delaware | $35,529 | $17.08 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $32,746 | $15.74 |
| 34 | Iowa | $32,967 | $15.85 |
| 35 | Ohio | $32,032 | $15.40 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $32,406 | $15.58 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $30,545 | $14.69 |
| 38 | Montana | $33,211 | $15.97 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $30,293 | $14.56 |
| 40 | Michigan | $31,493 | $15.14 |
| 41 | Texas | $30,546 | $14.69 |
| 42 | Maryland | $34,376 | $16.53 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | $34,217 | $16.45 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $28,421 | $13.66 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $27,957 | $13.44 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $26,410 | $12.70 |
| 47 | Pennsylvania | $29,103 | $13.99 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $27,629 | $13.28 |
| 49 | Georgia | $28,595 | $13.75 |
| 50 | Virginia | $30,601 | $14.71 |
| 51 | Alabama | $28,463 | $13.68 |
Highest paying cities for banquet cooks
The highest-paying cities for banquet cooks are San Francisco, CA, Springfield, MA, and Seattle, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $47,565 | $22.87 |
| 2 | Springfield, MA | $44,953 | $21.61 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $43,949 | $21.13 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $42,285 | $20.33 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $41,796 | $20.09 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $41,182 | $19.80 |
| 7 | Broomfield, CO | $39,580 | $19.03 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $38,509 | $18.51 |
| 9 | Kansas City, MO | $36,637 | $17.61 |
| 10 | Orlando, FL | $36,447 | $17.52 |
| 11 | Asheville, NC | $36,020 | $17.32 |
| 12 | Portland, ME | $35,894 | $17.26 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $34,893 | $16.78 |
| 14 | Salt Lake City, UT | $34,813 | $16.74 |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN | $34,222 | $16.45 |
| 16 | Albuquerque, NM | $32,798 | $15.77 |
| 17 | Cleveland, OH | $32,711 | $15.73 |
| 18 | Arlington, VA | $31,202 | $15.00 |
| 19 | Austin, TX | $30,577 | $14.70 |
| 20 | Philadelphia, PA | $29,147 | $14.01 |
Banquet cook salary details
A banquet cook's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $43,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a banquet cook's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 75th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| Average | $34,599 | $2,883 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying banquet cook jobs
The highest paying types of banquet cooks are banquet chef, head cook, and lead cook.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Culinary Internship | $31,368 | $2,614 | $15.08 | 93,844 |
| Line Cook, Prep Cook | $32,982 | $2,748 | $15.86 | 164,756 |
| Line Cook/Dishwasher | $34,435 | $2,870 | $16.56 | 133,370 |
| Cook | $31,803 | $2,650 | $15.29 | 184,818 |
| Fry Cook | $30,622 | $2,552 | $14.72 | 246,323 |
| Kitchen Cook | $31,452 | $2,621 | $15.12 | 250,354 |
Top companies hiring banquet cooks now:
Which companies pay banquet cooks the most?
Banquet cook salaries at Grosse Pointe Yacht Club and The Culinary Institute of America are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average banquet cook salary at companies like Kohler Co. and Fantasy Springs Resort Casino are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grosse Pointe Yacht Club | $39,298 | $18.89 |
| 2 | The Culinary Institute of America | $39,249 | $18.87 |
| 3 | Kohler Co. | $38,585 | $18.55 |
| 4 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino | $38,302 | $18.41 |
| 5 | Treasure Island Resort & Casino | $38,130 | $18.33 |
| 6 | Tulalip Resort Casino | $38,062 | $18.30 |
| 7 | Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City | $37,940 | $18.24 |
| 8 | Emerald Queen Casino | $37,785 | $18.17 |
| 9 | Sandia Resort & Casino | $37,462 | $18.01 |
| 10 | Foxwoods Resort Casino | $37,228 | $17.90 |
| 11 | Hyatt Hotels | $37,194 | $17.88 |
| 12 | Cornell University | $37,099 | $17.84 |
| 13 | Radisson Hotels International Inc | $37,079 | $17.83 |
| 14 | Wyndham Hotels & Resorts | $37,060 | $17.82 |
| 15 | Morongo Casino Resort & Spa | $36,994 | $17.79 |
| 16 | Minnesota Limited | $36,933 | $17.76 |
| 17 | Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants | $36,907 | $17.74 |
| 18 | HEI Hotels & Resorts | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| 19 | Radisson | $36,839 | $17.71 |
| 20 | Penn National Gaming | $36,749 | $17.67 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Banquet cook salary trends
The average banquet cook salary has risen by $8,073 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average banquet cook earned $26,526 annually, but today, they earn $34,599 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for banquet cooks over the last decade.
Compare banquet cook salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average banquet cook salary over time
Compare banquet cook salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Banquet cook salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $34,600 | $16.63 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $33,400 | $16.05 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $31,900 | $15.32 | +5.1% |
| 2022 | $30,200 | $14.54 | +4.1% |
| 2021 | $29,000 | $13.94 | +4.3% |
Recently added banquet cook salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caesars Entertainment | Cook Intermediate-WCC Banquets (Harrah's Atlantic City) | Atlantic City, NJ | 06/29/2025 | $46,958 |
| Regency Hotel Management | Banquet Cook | Traverse City, MI | 06/29/2025 | $37,566 |
| Hilton | Banquet Cook III-Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort | Wailea, HI | 06/28/2025 | $62,610 |
| Sage Hospitality | Banquet Cook | Denver, CO | 06/28/2025 | $46,958 |
| Davidson Hospitality Group | Banquet Cook | Oak Brook, IL | 06/27/2025 | $50,088 |
| Sage Hospitality Group | Banquet Cook | Denver, CO | 06/27/2025 | $46,958 |
| IHG Career | Banquet Cook 2 | Atlanta, GA | 06/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Hyatt Hotels Corp | Banquet Cook-The Seabird Resort | Oceanside, CA | 06/26/2025 | $42,784 |
| Intercontinental Hotels Group | Banquet Cook 2 | Atlanta, GA | 06/26/2025 | $41,740 |
| IHG | Banquet Cook 2 | Atlanta, GA | 06/26/2025 | $41,740 |
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