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Dietary cook salary
Average dietary cook salary
$13.16
Average Dietary Cook Salary
The average salary for a Dietary Cook is approximately $27,365 annually, equating to about $13 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, experience, and the type of facility. For instance, Dietary Cooks in states like California and New York often earn more due to higher living costs and demand for skilled culinary professionals.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level Dietary Cooks typically earn less, while those with several years of experience can see their salaries increase. According to industry data, experienced cooks can earn closer to $35,000 annually, reflecting their advanced skills and responsibilities.
Job Opportunities
Dietary Cooks work in various settings, including hospitals, schools, and private homes, providing nutritious meals tailored to individual dietary needs. As health awareness increases, the demand for qualified Dietary Cooks is expected to grow, offering a stable career path for those entering this field.
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Where can a Dietary Cook earn more?
Dietary cook salaries by experience level
Dietary cook salary estimates from across the web
Average dietary cook salary by state
The average dietary cook salary in Utah, Alaska, and North Dakota are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average dietary cook salary states are Kansas, Missouri, and Texas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for dietary cooks
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | $34,166 | $16.43 |
| 2 | Utah | $38,765 | $18.64 |
| 3 | Alaska | $38,408 | $18.47 |
| 4 | Nebraska | $35,601 | $17.12 |
| 5 | Idaho | $34,575 | $16.62 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $35,989 | $17.30 |
| 7 | Indiana | $30,854 | $14.83 |
| 8 | Nevada | $31,945 | $15.36 |
| 9 | Arizona | $31,327 | $15.06 |
| 10 | Maine | $32,637 | $15.69 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $34,024 | $16.36 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $29,602 | $14.23 |
| 13 | Vermont | $33,523 | $16.12 |
| 14 | California | $34,327 | $16.50 |
| 15 | Tennessee | $26,744 | $12.86 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | $27,580 | $13.26 |
| 17 | Michigan | $27,699 | $13.32 |
| 18 | Colorado | $29,621 | $14.24 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $28,112 | $13.52 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $26,809 | $12.89 |
| 21 | Oregon | $30,840 | $14.83 |
| 22 | New York | $31,597 | $15.19 |
| 23 | Montana | $28,670 | $13.78 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $26,848 | $12.91 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $28,429 | $13.67 |
| 26 | New Hampshire | $29,483 | $14.17 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $29,275 | $14.07 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $27,111 | $13.03 |
| 29 | Alabama | $27,027 | $12.99 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $31,489 | $15.14 |
| 31 | Ohio | $25,745 | $12.38 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $27,441 | $13.19 |
| 33 | Georgia | $26,436 | $12.71 |
| 34 | Delaware | $27,890 | $13.41 |
| 35 | Virginia | $27,385 | $13.17 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $24,865 | $11.95 |
| 37 | Connecticut | $27,628 | $13.28 |
| 38 | Iowa | $25,286 | $12.16 |
| 39 | Washington | $27,516 | $13.23 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $26,266 | $12.63 |
| 41 | Kansas | $23,750 | $11.42 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $24,900 | $11.97 |
| 43 | Florida | $24,036 | $11.56 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $22,731 | $10.93 |
| 45 | Missouri | $23,468 | $11.28 |
| 46 | Texas | $22,931 | $11.02 |
| 47 | District of Columbia | $27,638 | $13.29 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $21,307 | $10.24 |
| 49 | Illinois | $23,861 | $11.47 |
| 50 | New Jersey | $25,496 | $12.26 |
| 51 | Maryland | $21,602 | $10.39 |
Highest paying cities for dietary cooks
The highest-paying cities for dietary cooks are Omaha, NE, Jackson, MS, and Lynwood, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Omaha, NE | $35,536 | $17.08 |
| 2 | Jackson, MS | $34,169 | $16.43 |
| 3 | Lynwood, CA | $34,138 | $16.41 |
| 4 | Rochester, NY | $31,862 | $15.32 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $31,806 | $15.29 |
| 6 | Littleton, CO | $29,605 | $14.23 |
| 7 | Cornelius, NC | $27,144 | $13.05 |
| 8 | Birmingham, AL | $27,066 | $13.01 |
| 9 | Jackson, TN | $26,821 | $12.89 |
| 10 | Stevens Point, WI | $26,441 | $12.71 |
| 11 | Columbus, GA | $26,404 | $12.69 |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH | $25,885 | $12.44 |
| 13 | Belleville, NJ | $25,631 | $12.32 |
| 14 | Garden City, KS | $24,328 | $11.70 |
| 15 | Jacksonville, FL | $24,173 | $11.62 |
| 16 | Bloomington, IL | $23,753 | $11.42 |
| 17 | Blue Springs, MO | $23,570 | $11.33 |
| 18 | Wichita Falls, TX | $23,125 | $11.12 |
Dietary cook salary details
A dietary cook's salary ranges from $21,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $34,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a dietary cook's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 75th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| Average | $27,365 | $2,280 | $13 |
| 25th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
| 10th Percentile | $21,000 | $1,750 | $10 |
Highest paying dietary cook jobs
The highest paying types of dietary cooks are head cook, lead cook, and cook chill technician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cook/Server | $29,716 | $2,476 | $14.29 | 257,582 |
| Line Cook, Prep Cook | $32,982 | $2,748 | $15.86 | 164,756 |
| Cook | $31,803 | $2,650 | $15.29 | 184,818 |
| Cook/Dietary Aide | $27,490 | $2,291 | $13.22 | 163,273 |
| Prep Cook | $32,292 | $2,691 | $15.53 | 168,265 |
| Head Cook | $44,412 | $3,701 | $21.35 | 156,227 |
Which companies pay dietary cooks the most?
Dietary cook salaries at SantaFe HealthCare and Childhelp are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average dietary cook salary at companies like Eisenhower Medical Center and Poplar Springs Hospital are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SantaFe HealthCare | $34,590 | $16.63 |
| 2 | Childhelp | $31,171 | $14.99 |
| 3 | Eisenhower Medical Center | $31,098 | $14.95 |
| 4 | Poplar Springs Hospital | $30,841 | $14.83 |
| 5 | Pediatric Partners, now a member of the Sevita family | $30,501 | $14.66 |
| 6 | Lutz | $30,419 | $14.62 |
| 7 | Douglas | $30,403 | $14.62 |
| 8 | Universal Health Services | $30,158 | $14.50 |
| 9 | Prime Healthcare | $30,155 | $14.50 |
| 10 | Cedars & Oaks Consults | $30,140 | $14.49 |
| 11 | Tenet Healthcare | $30,081 | $14.46 |
| 12 | Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc. | $29,773 | $14.31 |
| 13 | Piedmont Healthcare | $29,760 | $14.31 |
| 14 | Prestige Care | $29,750 | $14.30 |
| 15 | The Merriman | $29,544 | $14.20 |
| 16 | Americare Senior Living | $29,533 | $14.20 |
| 17 | Mary’s Woods At Marylhurst | $29,511 | $14.19 |
| 18 | Five Points Washington | $29,478 | $14.17 |
| 19 | Tower Group Companies | $29,445 | $14.16 |
| 20 | Ensign Group | $29,423 | $14.15 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Dietary cook salary trends
The average dietary cook salary has risen by $5,673 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average dietary cook earned $21,692 annually, but today, they earn $27,365 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for dietary cooks over the last decade.
Compare dietary cook salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average dietary cook salary over time
Compare dietary cook salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Dietary cook salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $27,400 | $13.16 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $26,500 | $12.74 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | $25,700 | $12.33 | +3.7% |
| 2022 | $24,700 | $11.88 | +4.3% |
| 2021 | $23,600 | $11.37 | +3.2% |
Recently added dietary cook salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson Hospital | Cook-Dietary Service-Evenings | Maryville, IL | 06/28/2025 | $32,870 |
| White Pine, Comforts of Home & Gracewood Senior Living | Dietary | Hudson, WI | 06/28/2025 | $36,523 |
| WW Healthcare Consultants | Dietary Cook | Black Mountain, NC | 06/27/2025 | $32,223 |
| West Hills Health and Rehab Center | Dietary Cook | Parksdale, CA | 06/26/2025 | $41,740 |
| National Health-White Oak Group | Dietary Cook | Spartanburg, SC | 06/26/2025 | $31,305 |
| Glacial Ridge Hospital District | Dietary Cook | Glenwood, MN | 06/26/2025 | $39,152 |
| Del Rosa Villa | Dietary Cook-DEL Rosa Villa | San Bernardino, CA | 06/25/2025 | $41,740 |
| Oak Glen Post Acute | Dietary Cook | Cherry Valley, CA | 06/25/2025 | $45,914 |
| PACS | Dietary Cook | San Diego, CA | 06/25/2025 | $41,740 |
| Mission Valley Post Acute | Dietary Cook | Fremont, CA | 06/25/2025 | $41,740 |
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