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Culinary assistant salary
Average culinary assistant salary
$15.94
Average Culinary Assistant Salary
The average salary for a Culinary Assistant currently stands at approximately $33,149 per year or $16 per hour. This figure varies significantly based on factors such as experience level, geographic location, and the specific culinary environment in which one works. For instance, culinary assistants in upscale restaurants or hotels often earn more than those in casual dining settings.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level culinary assistants can expect to earn around $28,000 annually, while those with several years of experience may see salaries rise to approximately $40,000 or more, especially in high-demand areas. This demonstrates the potential for career growth within the culinary field.
Highest Paying States
States such as California, New York, and Washington typically offer the highest salaries for culinary assistants, reflecting the cost of living and demand for culinary professionals. By targeting job opportunities in these states, culinary assistants can maximize their earning potential.
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Where can a Culinary Assistant earn more?
Culinary assistant salaries by experience level
Culinary assistant salary estimates from across the web
Average culinary assistant salary by state
The highest-paying states for culinary assistants are Rhode Island, Maine, and Vermont. The lowest average culinary assistant salary states are Georgia, Mississippi, and Idaho.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for culinary assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | $35,945 | $17.28 |
| 2 | Iowa | $35,716 | $17.17 |
| 3 | Maine | $41,563 | $19.98 |
| 4 | Oregon | $39,756 | $19.11 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $43,980 | $21.14 |
| 6 | Washington | $39,184 | $18.84 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $35,174 | $16.91 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $40,014 | $19.24 |
| 9 | Texas | $33,275 | $16.00 |
| 10 | Utah | $34,669 | $16.67 |
| 11 | Vermont | $40,216 | $19.33 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $35,191 | $16.92 |
| 13 | Indiana | $31,828 | $15.30 |
| 14 | Nebraska | $32,878 | $15.81 |
| 15 | Illinois | $32,819 | $15.78 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $35,292 | $16.97 |
| 17 | California | $38,144 | $18.34 |
| 18 | Colorado | $33,531 | $16.12 |
| 19 | Michigan | $31,471 | $15.13 |
| 20 | New Jersey | $37,361 | $17.96 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $33,104 | $15.92 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $39,231 | $18.86 |
| 23 | New York | $36,315 | $17.46 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $31,921 | $15.35 |
| 25 | Ohio | $29,609 | $14.24 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $30,471 | $14.65 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $32,596 | $15.67 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $31,462 | $15.13 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $31,107 | $14.96 |
| 30 | Alaska | $32,329 | $15.54 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $29,325 | $14.10 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $29,105 | $13.99 |
| 33 | Arizona | $29,192 | $14.03 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $36,498 | $17.55 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $29,029 | $13.96 |
| 36 | Nevada | $29,682 | $14.27 |
| 37 | Delaware | $32,313 | $15.54 |
| 38 | Virginia | $31,957 | $15.36 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $26,429 | $12.71 |
| 40 | Maryland | $30,555 | $14.69 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $27,581 | $13.26 |
| 42 | Montana | $30,240 | $14.54 |
| 43 | Missouri | $27,815 | $13.37 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $28,567 | $13.73 |
| 45 | Georgia | $27,333 | $13.14 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $25,646 | $12.33 |
| 47 | Kansas | $27,815 | $13.37 |
| 48 | Idaho | $26,079 | $12.54 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $27,642 | $13.29 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $25,180 | $12.11 |
| 51 | Alabama | $25,889 | $12.45 |
Highest paying cities for culinary assistants
The highest-paying cities for culinary assistants are Worcester, MA, Seattle, WA, and La Mirada, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Worcester, MA | $40,030 | $19.25 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $39,165 | $18.83 |
| 3 | La Mirada, CA | $38,235 | $18.38 |
| 4 | Paramus, NJ | $37,491 | $18.02 |
| 5 | Yonkers, NY | $36,385 | $17.49 |
| 6 | Winter Park, FL | $36,134 | $17.37 |
| 7 | Newington, CT | $35,371 | $17.01 |
| 8 | Roseville, MN | $35,157 | $16.90 |
| 9 | Saint George, UT | $35,115 | $16.88 |
| 10 | Wheat Ridge, CO | $33,536 | $16.12 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $32,899 | $15.82 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $29,729 | $14.29 |
| 13 | Meridian, ID | $26,113 | $12.55 |
Culinary assistant salary details
A culinary assistant's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $41,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a culinary assistant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 75th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| Average | $33,149 | $2,762 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
Highest paying culinary assistant jobs
The highest paying types of culinary assistants are culinary specialist, cook/trainer, and deli clerk.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Service Worker | $28,753 | $2,396 | $13.82 | 169,323 |
| Kitchen Helper | $25,796 | $2,150 | $12.40 | 80,202 |
| Deli Worker | $28,578 | $2,382 | $13.74 | 37,658 |
| Food Prep/Dishwasher | $29,964 | $2,497 | $14.41 | 113,200 |
| Deli Clerk | $32,240 | $2,687 | $15.50 | 69,311 |
| Bakery Clerk | $28,651 | $2,388 | $13.77 | 67,778 |
Top companies hiring culinary assistants now:
Which companies pay culinary assistants the most?
Culinary assistant salaries at The Walt Disney Company and Heifer International are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average culinary assistant salary at companies like Kettering Health Network and Licking Memorial Hos are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Walt Disney Company | $37,644 | $18.10 |
| 2 | Heifer International | $37,231 | $17.90 |
| 3 | Kettering Health Network | $35,373 | $17.01 |
| 4 | Licking Memorial Hos | $34,160 | $16.42 |
| 5 | Jewish Senior Life | $33,473 | $16.09 |
| 6 | Diamond Ranch Academy | $33,376 | $16.05 |
| 7 | Milestone | $33,332 | $16.02 |
| 8 | Amherst College | $33,315 | $16.02 |
| 9 | College of the Holy Cross | $33,063 | $15.90 |
| 10 | Fairview Health Services | $32,945 | $15.84 |
| 11 | Crestwood Behavioral Health | $32,830 | $15.78 |
| 12 | Ste. Michelle Wine Estates | $32,735 | $15.74 |
| 13 | Stew Leonard's | $32,493 | $15.62 |
| 14 | Froedtert Hospital | $32,441 | $15.60 |
| 15 | Menno Haven | $32,386 | $15.57 |
| 16 | Benedictine Health System | $32,299 | $15.53 |
| 17 | Reedsburg Area Medical Center | $32,197 | $15.48 |
| 18 | Augustana Care | $31,914 | $15.34 |
| 19 | Kindred Healthcare | $31,512 | $15.15 |
| 20 | University of Alaska | $28,655 | $13.78 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Culinary Assistant salary by industry
The average culinary assistant salary varies across industries:
- The average culinary assistant salary in the media industry is $35,641, the highest of any industry.
- The average culinary assistant salary in the finance industry is $33,635.
- Culinary assistants in the health care industry earn an average salary of $32,809, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for culinary assistants
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Media | $35,641 | $17.14 |
| 2 | Education | $33,635 | $16.17 |
| 3 | Hospitality | $32,851 | $15.79 |
| 4 | Health Care | $32,809 | $15.77 |
High paying culinary assistant jobs
Culinary assistant salary trends
The average culinary assistant salary has risen by $8,646 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average culinary assistant earned $24,503 annually, but today, they earn $33,149 a year. That works out to a 22% change in pay for culinary assistants over the last decade.
Compare culinary assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average culinary assistant salary over time
Compare culinary assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Culinary assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,100 | $15.94 | +4.9% |
| 2024 | $31,500 | $15.16 | +4.3% |
| 2023 | $30,200 | $14.51 | +4.2% |
| 2022 | $28,900 | $13.90 | +5.7% |
| 2021 | $27,300 | $13.11 | +5.9% |
Recently added culinary assistant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reddog | Culinary Assistant | Henderson, NV | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| TWE Global | Seasonal Culinary Assistant-Beringer | Napa, CA | 06/29/2025 | $43,827 |
| Aramark Corp | Culinary Enablement | Fine, NY | 06/26/2025 | $52,175 |
| Disney Worldwide Services | Disney Culinary Program-Spring 2025 | Lake Buena Vista, FL | 06/26/2025 | $45,914 |
| Sr Companies | Culinary Assistant-Server/Dishwasher | Myrtle Beach, SC | 06/26/2025 | $29,218 |
| Westgate Resorts | Culinary Assistant | Orlando, FL | 06/21/2025 | $31,305 |
| Westgate Resorts | Culinary Assistant | Myrtle Beach, SC | 06/21/2025 | $35,479 |
| Hope Haven | Culinary Assistant (Cook) | Charlotte, NC | 06/17/2025 | $37,566 |
| Mount Prospect Academy | Culinary Assistant | New Hampshire | 06/14/2025 | $37,566 |
| Eventide Senior Living | Culinary Assistant/Server A P Shift | Moorhead, MN | 06/13/2025 | $33,392 |
Culinary assistant salary FAQs
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