Average Line Cook Salary

Q: Do line cooks make good money?

No, most line cooks do not make good money. The average pay for a line cook is around $12 an hour. If you have earned a degree or have a background in culinary school, you can earn up to $18 an hour as a line cook. Line cooks can share tips with servers or eat for free during their shifts, depending on the restaurant. Although you may not make a lot of money as a line cook, many benefits can make up for that.

Q: How much do line cooks work?

Line cooks work consistently. Line cook positions may be part-time or full-time. The hours are highly varied compared to the 9 AM - 5 PM workday. Work is scheduled around meals such as breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Some restaurants may host events or stay open 24 hours, and you can find a position with plenty of hours if you look. Restaurants that hire line cooks will stay busy. Line cooks are hired to work certain stations in a larger restaurant setting, and while serving in this position, the demands will keep you working throughout your shift. Line cook work is considered fast-paced, variable, and an important part of the kitchen.

Updated August 18, 2021

Average Line Cook Salary

$13.26 hourly

$27,000 yearly

Entry level Salary

$23,000 yearly

$23,000

10 %

$27,000

Median

$32,000

90 %

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Percentile	Annual Salary	Monthly Salary	Hourly Rate
90th Percentile	$32,000	$2,667	$15
75th Percentile	$30,000	$2,500	$14
Average	$27,579	$2,298	$13
25th Percentile	$25,000	$2,083	$12
10th Percentile	$23,000	$1,917	$11

Average Line Cook Salary By State

The darker areas on the map show where line cooks earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.

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Average Salary:

Line Cook average salary by State

State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate	Job Count
Alabama	$22,039	$10.60	797
Alaska	$30,382	$14.61	127
Arizona	$28,056	$13.49	1,499
Arkansas	$22,391	$10.76	728
California	$32,370	$15.56	4,365
Colorado	$28,399	$13.65	1,343
Connecticut	$29,008	$13.95	515
Delaware	$26,166	$12.58	167
District of Columbia	$29,555	$14.21	97
Florida	$27,006	$12.98	4,923
Georgia	$22,620	$10.88	2,046
Hawaii	$34,831	$16.75	130
Idaho	$22,902	$11.01	297
Illinois	$26,686	$12.83	2,352
Indiana	$23,629	$11.36	1,666
Iowa	$23,838	$11.46	693
Kansas	$22,266	$10.70	780
Kentucky	$22,538	$10.84	1,068
Louisiana	$22,483	$10.81	957
Maine	$29,189	$14.03	190
Maryland	$26,927	$12.95	992
Massachusetts	$32,008	$15.39	1,087
Michigan	$24,049	$11.56	1,594
Minnesota	$27,993	$13.46	1,273
Mississippi	$19,851	$9.54	636
Missouri	$24,232	$11.65	1,557
Montana	$20,504	$9.86	210
Nebraska	$26,219	$12.61	385
Nevada	$29,381	$14.13	497
New Hampshire	$28,899	$13.89	182
New Jersey	$29,616	$14.24	1,202
New Mexico	$23,289	$11.20	377
New York	$29,855	$14.35	1,927
North Carolina	$23,120	$11.12	2,221
North Dakota	$25,527	$12.27	144
Ohio	$25,036	$12.04	2,331
Oklahoma	$23,582	$11.34	980
Oregon	$30,680	$14.75	555
Pennsylvania	$25,681	$12.35	2,267
Rhode Island	$32,196	$15.48	127
South Carolina	$22,625	$10.88	1,035
South Dakota	$24,176	$11.62	116
Tennessee	$23,068	$11.09	1,827
Texas	$25,373	$12.20	5,914
Utah	$26,678	$12.83	621
Vermont	$31,968	$15.37	68
Virginia	$23,993	$11.54	1,468
Washington	$32,481	$15.62	866
West Virginia	$20,342	$9.78	279
Wisconsin	$25,543	$12.28	892
Wyoming	$25,485	$12.25	105

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Highest Paying Cities For Line Cook

City	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
San Francisco, CA	$34,460	$16.57
Seattle, WA	$33,252	$15.99
Portland, OR	$30,469	$14.65
New York, NY	$29,881	$14.37
Plainfield, NJ	$29,619	$14.24
Washington, DC	$29,571	$14.22

The largest raises come from changing jobs.

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How much does a Line Cook make?

The average line cook salary is $27,579 per year, or $13.26 per hour, in the United States. People on the lower end of that spectrum, the bottom 10% to be exact, make roughly $23,000 a year, while the top 10% makes $32,000. As most things go, location can be critical. Hawaii, Washington, California, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts provide the highest line cook salaries.

Average Line Cook Salary Over Time

Compare salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Year	Avg. salary	Hourly rate	% Change
2021	$27,600	$13.26	+5.1%
2020	$26,200	$12.58	+4.1%
2019	$25,100	$12.06	+4.3%
2018	$24,000	$11.54	+2.6%
2017	$23,400	$11.24	+1.5%

Average JOB Salary by Field

Prep Cook/Dishwasher

Avg. salary: $25,533

A prep cook and dishwasher is responsible for cleaning and sanitizing kitchen items and utensils, and performing basic cooking tasks under the supervision of chefs or cooks. It is also their responsibility to prepare ingredients by washing, chopping, weighing, and ensuring that they are the correct quantity and quality. Furthermore, a prep cook and dishwasher may also have to maintain cleanliness in the kitchen, clear tables, monitor inventory of ingredients in storage, coordinate with the kitchen staff, and meet all health standards and policies.

65,665 Prep Cook/Dishwasher Jobs

Short Order Cook

Avg. salary: $25,326

A short-order cook takes responsibility for preparing foods in cafes and restaurants. Usually, they fry eggs, cook fries, and prepare sandwiches. Short order cooks work alongside line chefs in the foodservice market. Their manner of preparing food is quick, easy, and simple. They plan and handle work orders ensuring that all orders are complete and served on time. Strong communication, customer service, a good sense of taste, and the ability to work efficiently are necessary requirements for the job.

98,891 Short Order Cook Jobs

Mexican Food Cook

Avg. salary: $27,666

A Mexican Food Cook works at restaurants or similar establishments that specialize in Mexican cuisine. Their responsibilities revolve around cutting meat and vegetable in portions, cooking and preparing according to company menu and guidelines, monitoring the supply of ingredients, and maintaining the cleanliness of work areas. There are also instances where they must delegate tasks among staff, coordinate with managers, and resolve order problems. Mexican Food Cooks must work while adhering to the company and the government's health and safety regulations and standards.

124,309 Mexican Food Cook Jobs

Fry Cook

Avg. salary: $26,038

Generally, a fry cook works in a kitchen specializing in fried foods and operating the deep fryer. Fry cooks or chefs cook food by submerging in boiling oil. They prepare food to be fried, work with frying pans, and watch over deep fryers. The skills they need to establish include food preparation, dexterity, physical stamina, and comprehension. They are also expected to be understanding and patient, noting that these qualities help impress the customers.

117,162 Fry Cook Jobs

Cook

Avg. salary: $27,995

Cooks are responsible for preparing meals for guests or employers. They must be knowledgeable about the different recipes and ingredients needed. They are also responsible for managing the inventory and ensuring that the pantry is well-stocked. They prepare meals from scratch, cutting ingredients, measuring them, and following recipes. Cooks should be creative, especially when ingredients are lacking, and they must find alternatives that will not compromise the food taste. They should be precise, imaginative, and patient. Cooks should also have good time management skills and decision-making skills.

103,733 Cook Jobs

Line Cook, Prep Cook

Avg. salary: $26,821

A line cook/prep cook is responsible for assisting with food preparations, ensuring that all ingredients are readily available and stored safely. Line cook/prep cook tasks also include reviewing and updating menus to keep the customers' patronization. Their duties also include researching the current food industry trends, managing customers' inquiries, resolving serving complaints, monitoring food supplies and inventories, and complying with sanitary regulations. A line cook/prep cook must have excellent time-management and multi-tasking skills to perform various tasks under strict time demands and a fast-paced environment.

112,975 Line Cook, Prep Cook Jobs

Job Title	Annual Salary	Monthly Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
Prep Cook/Dishwasher	$25,534	$2,128	$12.28	65,665
Short Order Cook	$25,326	$2,111	$12.18	98,891
Mexican Food Cook	$27,666	$2,306	$13.30	124,309
Fry Cook	$26,039	$2,170	$12.52	117,162
Cook	$27,996	$2,333	$13.46	103,733
Line Cook, Prep Cook	$26,822	$2,235	$12.90	112,975

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Line Cook Salaries By Years Of Experience

The salary for a line cook can vary depending on the years of experience that a person has, from entry level to senior level. Data on how experience level affects total compensation is provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as part of their National Compensation Survey, which is based on factors such as knowledge, complexity, contacts, and environment.

Which Companies Pay Line Cooks The Most?

If you want to get paid the most as a line cook, being employed by a company such as Logan's Roadhouse or IHOP would be a smart choice, as they are the highest paying companies in this field. Additionally, companies like The Cheesecake Factory and Cala Co also report highly competitive salaries for line cooks.

Rank	Company	Zippia Score	Average Line Cook Salary
1	1.Logan's Roadhouse	4.4	$36,038
2	2.IHOP	4.5	$35,653
3	3.The Cheesecake Factory	4.4	$35,341
4	4.Cala Co	4.1	$35,287
5	5.O'Charley's	3.8	$35,133
6	6.Westfield Group	4.5	$35,108

How much should you get paid?

Tell us about yourself to get a free, personalized Zippia Salary Report and suggestions on how to increase your pay.

Recently Added Line Cook Salaries

Company	Job	Location	Date Added	Salary
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Line Cooks Incentive*-Start at !	Line Cooks Incentive*-Start at !	Carmel, MI	08/31/2021	$25,044 08/31/2021
Delaware North Line Cook, Buffalo Airport	Line Cook, Buffalo Airport	Buffalo, NY	08/31/2021	$37,566 08/31/2021
Elysian Fields Host, Busser, Line Cook	Host, Busser, Line Cook	Seattle, WA	08/31/2021	$34,832 08/31/2021
54Th Street-24 Alliance 54Th Street-24 Alliance-Line Cook	54Th Street-24 Alliance-Line Cook	Fort Worth, TX	08/31/2021	$27,131 08/31/2021
Chopan Kabob House Chopan Kabob House-Line Cook	Chopan Kabob House-Line Cook	Sugar Land, TX	08/31/2021	$27,131 08/31/2021
Red Robin Line Cook	Line Cook	Papillion, NE	08/31/2021	$25,044 08/31/2021
Hibachi Bros Skilled Chef and Line Cook	Skilled Chef and Line Cook	Houston, TX	08/31/2021	$25,044 08/31/2021
TrÈS La Catering Line Cook for A Tech Company-MON-FRI With Evenings and Weekends Off	Line Cook for A Tech Company-MON-FRI With Evenings and Weekends Off	Los Angeles, CA	08/30/2021	$41,740 08/30/2021
Tucci Restaurant Experienced Line Cook	Experienced Line Cook	Lake Oswego, OR	08/30/2021	$37,566 08/30/2021
Red Robin International, Inc. Line Cooks-Start at !	Line Cooks-Start at !	Albuquerque, NM	08/30/2021	$25,044 08/30/2021

Related Job Salaries

Job Title	Average Salary	Job Openings
Line Cook, Prep Cook	$26,822	112,975
Line Cook/Dishwasher	$26,009	71,068
Line Chef	$26,203	77,131
Cook	$27,996	103,733
Prep Cook	$25,441	90,229
Cook/Trainer	$29,838	83,572
Banquet Cook	$29,498	86,515
Kitchen Cook	$26,595	142,881
Grill Cook/Prep	$26,877	68,284
Lead Line Cook	$33,239	91,922

Average Line Cook Salary by Demographic

Line Cook Gender Pay Gap

Male Income

$28,247

Female Income

$27,559

Gender	Income
Male	$28,247
Female	$27,559

Median Line Cook Income by Race

Asian line cooks have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american line cooks have the lowest average salary at $27,573.

$30,000

$24,000

$18,000

$12,000

$6,000

White

Black or African American

Asian

Hispanic or Latino

Ethnicity	Salary
White	$27,595
Black or African American	$27,573
Asian	$28,298
Hispanic or Latino	$28,102

Average Line Cook Salary by Education Level

Line cooks with a Bachelors degree earn more than those without, at $29,239 annually. With a Associate degree, line cooks earn a median annual income of $29,225 compared to $28,247 for line cooks with an High School Diploma degree.

$30,000

$24,000

$18,000

$12,000

$6,000

High School Diploma or Less

Bachelor's Degree

Some College/ Associate Degree

Education	Salary
High School Diploma or Less	$28,247
Bachelor's Degree	$29,239
Some College/ Associate Degree	$29,225

Line Cook FAQs

Do line cooks make good money?

No, most line cooks do not make good money. The average pay for a line cook is around $12 an hour. If you have earned a degree or have a background in culinary school, you can earn up to $18 an hour as a line cook.

Line cooks can share tips with servers or eat for free during their shifts, depending on the restaurant. Although you may not make a lot of money as a line cook, many benefits can make up for that.

Learn more about this question

How much do line cooks make per year?

Line cooks make $24,000 to $34,000 a year, or between $11 and $16 per hour. Pay varies on location, experience, and restaurant demographics. You can earn more with a culinary arts degree or simply through impressing your team. Line cook work is both a fast-paced practical skill, but also an art.

Locations such as Hawaii, New York, Washington, and California show annual averages of $27,300, that's $14.00 an hour. As hourly employees, line cooks are entitled to earn overtime for their work, compared to chefs, who are often salaried employees.

Learn more about this question

How much do line cooks work?

Line cooks work consistently. Line cook positions may be part-time or full-time. The hours are highly varied compared to the 9 AM - 5 PM workday. Work is scheduled around meals such as breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Some restaurants may host events or stay open 24 hours, and you can find a position with plenty of hours if you look.

Restaurants that hire line cooks will stay busy. Line cooks are hired to work certain stations in a larger restaurant setting, and while serving in this position, the demands will keep you working throughout your shift. Line cook work is considered fast-paced, variable, and an important part of the kitchen.

Learn more about this question

What is a good wage for a cook?

A good wage for a line cook is anything from $15 an hour upwards, the more common salary for a line cook is $13 an hour. If you are serving expensive dishes in a prime area at a thriving restaurant, your pay should reflect this by being higher.

A head chef in the kitchen is paid between $25-30 dollars an hour. The head chef typically has a culinary art degree and full vision and direction over what dishes are made. The head chefs are sometimes even the founders of the restaurants.

Learn more about this question

Updated August 18, 2021

Average Line Cook Salary

Average Line Cook Salary By State

Line Cook average salary by State

How much should you get paid?

Highest Paying Cities For Line Cook

The largest raises come from changing jobs.

How much does a Line Cook make?

Average Line Cook Salary Over Time

Average JOB Salary by Field

Line Cook Salaries By Years Of Experience

Which Companies Pay Line Cooks The Most?

How much should you get paid?

Recently Added Line Cook Salaries

Average Line Cook Salary by Demographic

Line Cook Gender Pay Gap

Line Cook FAQs

Do line cooks make good money?

How much do line cooks make per year?

How much do line cooks work?

What is a good wage for a cook?

Line Cook Related Salaries

Line Cook Related Careers

Line Cook Related Jobs

Line Cook Jobs By Location