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Grill cook salary
Average grill cook salary
$15.33
Average Grill Cook Salary
The average salary for a Grill Cook stands at approximately $31,895 annually, translating to about $15.33 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on factors such as experience, location, and the employer's industry. For instance, grill cooks in fine dining establishments often earn more than those in fast-food settings.
Grill Cook Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level grill cooks typically start at a lower wage, while those with several years of experience may see significant increases. According to recent data, experienced cooks can earn upwards of $40,000 annually, especially in metropolitan areas where demand is high.
Highest Paying States for Grill Cooks
States such as California and New York offer some of the highest salaries for grill cooks due to the cost of living and competitive job markets. Understanding where to work can greatly impact your earning potential.
Conclusion
For those interested in pursuing a career as a grill cook, it’s essential to consider the factors influencing salary and explore opportunities in various locations and establishments.
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Where can a Grill Cook earn more?
Grill cook salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level grill cook | $23,900 | $11.50 |
| Mid-level grill cook | $28,900 | $13.89 |
| Senior-level grill cook | $34,300 | $16.50 |
Grill cook salary estimates from across the web
Average grill cook salary by state
The highest-paying states for grill cooks are Washington, Oregon, and Connecticut. The lowest average grill cook salary states are Texas, Tennessee, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for grill cooks
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $40,257 | $19.35 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| 3 | Wyoming | $33,577 | $16.14 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $34,723 | $16.69 |
| 5 | Alaska | $35,723 | $17.17 |
| 6 | Oregon | $37,787 | $18.17 |
| 7 | Illinois | $34,342 | $16.51 |
| 8 | Colorado | $33,766 | $16.23 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $34,178 | $16.43 |
| 10 | California | $36,916 | $17.75 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $35,735 | $17.18 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $36,320 | $17.46 |
| 13 | Vermont | $34,779 | $16.72 |
| 14 | Nevada | $30,464 | $14.65 |
| 15 | Michigan | $30,315 | $14.57 |
| 16 | Idaho | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| 17 | Arizona | $30,388 | $14.61 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $31,187 | $14.99 |
| 19 | New York | $34,483 | $16.58 |
| 20 | Maine | $33,190 | $15.96 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $31,039 | $14.92 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $35,506 | $17.07 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $30,811 | $14.81 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $33,292 | $16.01 |
| 25 | Indiana | $28,776 | $13.83 |
| 26 | Utah | $30,158 | $14.50 |
| 27 | Ohio | $28,511 | $13.71 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $32,563 | $15.66 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $35,348 | $16.99 |
| 30 | Delaware | $31,618 | $15.20 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $26,903 | $12.93 |
| 32 | Montana | $29,733 | $14.29 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $25,773 | $12.39 |
| 34 | Iowa | $29,056 | $13.97 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $27,553 | $13.25 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $26,141 | $12.57 |
| 37 | Missouri | $27,340 | $13.14 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $26,699 | $12.84 |
| 39 | Florida | $26,827 | $12.90 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $26,629 | $12.80 |
| 41 | Maryland | $30,491 | $14.66 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $28,382 | $13.65 |
| 43 | Virginia | $29,105 | $13.99 |
| 44 | Texas | $25,580 | $12.30 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $26,357 | $12.67 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $24,244 | $11.66 |
| 47 | Georgia | $26,659 | $12.82 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $24,044 | $11.56 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $22,405 | $10.77 |
| 50 | Alabama | $24,229 | $11.65 |
| 51 | Kansas | $23,134 | $11.12 |
Highest paying cities for grill cooks
The highest-paying cities for grill cooks are Seattle, WA, Richmond, CA, and Portland, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $40,401 | $19.42 |
| 2 | Richmond, CA | $37,881 | $18.21 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $37,764 | $18.16 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $36,401 | $17.50 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $35,335 | $16.99 |
| 6 | Albany, NY | $35,180 | $16.91 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $34,720 | $16.69 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $34,521 | $16.60 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $33,764 | $16.23 |
| 10 | Portland, ME | $33,279 | $16.00 |
| 11 | Bethlehem, PA | $31,472 | $15.13 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $30,679 | $14.75 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $30,500 | $14.66 |
| 14 | Novi, MI | $30,254 | $14.55 |
| 15 | Salt Lake City, UT | $30,179 | $14.51 |
| 16 | Alexandria, VA | $30,161 | $14.50 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $28,553 | $13.73 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $28,090 | $13.50 |
| 19 | Raleigh, NC | $27,791 | $13.36 |
| 20 | Jacksonville, FL | $27,587 | $13.26 |
Grill Cooks are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Grill cook salary details
A grill cook's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $39,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a grill cook's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $31,895 | $2,658 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
Highest paying grill cook jobs
The highest paying types of grill cooks are head cook, lead cook, and banquet cook.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cook/Dishwasher | $31,703 | $2,642 | $15.24 | 133,000 |
| Cook/Server | $29,716 | $2,476 | $14.29 | 257,582 |
| Line Cook, Prep Cook | $32,982 | $2,748 | $15.86 | 164,756 |
| Line Cook/Dishwasher | $34,435 | $2,870 | $16.56 | 133,370 |
| Mexican Food Cook | $31,039 | $2,587 | $14.92 | 275,588 |
| Short Order Cook | $30,734 | $2,561 | $14.78 | 176,187 |
Top companies hiring grill cooks now:
Which companies pay grill cooks the most?
Grill cook salaries at St. Petersburg Yacht Club and Andersen are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average grill cook salary at companies like Cisco and Hilton Grand Vacations are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Petersburg Yacht Club | $40,570 | $19.50 |
| 2 | Andersen | $38,830 | $18.67 |
| 3 | Cisco | $38,286 | $18.41 |
| 4 | Hilton Grand Vacations | $37,123 | $17.85 |
| 5 | Radisson Hotels International Inc | $36,996 | $17.79 |
| 6 | Hyatt Hotels | $36,913 | $17.75 |
| 7 | Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts | $36,625 | $17.61 |
| 8 | Bob's Red Mill | $36,608 | $17.60 |
| 9 | JBS USA | $36,551 | $17.57 |
| 10 | Ruth's Hospitality Group | $36,377 | $17.49 |
| 11 | Edge Services | $36,286 | $17.45 |
| 12 | Roxy | $36,255 | $17.43 |
| 13 | Tempur Sealy International | $36,185 | $17.40 |
| 14 | Grosse Pointe Yacht Club | $36,160 | $17.38 |
| 15 | Sentry | $35,896 | $17.26 |
| 16 | Children's of Alabama | $35,742 | $17.18 |
| 17 | Abbott | $35,716 | $17.17 |
| 18 | Il Fornaio | $35,674 | $17.15 |
| 19 | Hearthside Food Solutions | $35,621 | $17.13 |
| 20 | Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort | $35,586 | $17.11 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Grill cook salary trends
The average grill cook salary has risen by $7,442 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average grill cook earned $24,453 annually, but today, they earn $31,895 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for grill cooks over the last decade.
Compare grill cook salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average grill cook salary over time
Compare grill cook salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Grill cook salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $31,900 | $15.33 | +3.5% |
| 2025 | $30,800 | $14.80 | +4.5% |
| 2024 | $29,400 | $14.13 | +5.1% |
| 2023 | $27,900 | $13.41 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | $26,700 | $12.85 | +4.3% |
Recently added grill cook salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware North Companies | Grill Cook, Yellowstone General Stores | Parkman, WY | 06/29/2025 | $38,088 |
| Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma | Cook 2 Tuklo Grill Choctaw Landing | Broken Bow, OK | 06/29/2025 | $33,392 |
| Fortune Bay Resort Casino | Grill Cook | Tower, MN | 06/29/2025 | $37,420 |
| The South Branch Inn | Cook/Cashier-Striker's Grill | Moorefield, WV | 06/29/2025 | $25,044 |
| Dig Chefs-In-Training | Grill Cook, ONE Loudoun | Ashburn, VA | 06/29/2025 | $33,392 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Grill Cook and | Southfield, MI | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Sodexo | Grill Cook | Jacksonville, FL | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Sodexo | Cafeteria Grill Cook | Saint Louis, MO | 06/28/2025 | $35,479 |
| Sodexo | Grill Cook | Omaha, NE | 06/28/2025 | $31,305 |
| Sodexo S A | Grill Cook | Omaha, NE | 06/28/2025 | $31,305 |
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