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Kitchen crew salary
Average kitchen crew salary
$14.36
Average Kitchen Crew Salary
The average salary for a Kitchen Crew member is $29,874 annually, which translates to around $14 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on location, experience, and the type of establishment. For example, kitchen crews in major cities often see higher wages compared to those in smaller towns. Understanding these variations can help candidates target their job searches effectively.
Where Can a Kitchen Crew Earn More?
Regions with a high demand for culinary professionals, such as California and New York, tend to offer better compensation. Additionally, kitchen crew positions in upscale restaurants or hotels may provide higher salaries due to the increased expectations and responsibilities. By exploring specific states and cities, job seekers can pinpoint opportunities that align with their financial goals.
Average Kitchen Crew Salary by Experience
Entry-level positions may start around $12 per hour, while those with several years of experience can earn upwards of $16 or more. Acquiring specialized skills or certifications can also enhance earning potential in this field.
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Where can a Kitchen Crew earn more?
Average kitchen crew salary by state
The average kitchen crew salary in New Hampshire, Washington, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average kitchen crew salary states are Oklahoma, Georgia, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for kitchen crews
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | $34,815 | $16.74 |
| 2 | Utah | $35,766 | $17.20 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | $33,861 | $16.28 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $37,987 | $18.26 |
| 5 | Iowa | $34,271 | $16.48 |
| 6 | Washington | $37,923 | $18.23 |
| 7 | Idaho | $34,097 | $16.39 |
| 8 | New York | $36,737 | $17.66 |
| 9 | Colorado | $33,361 | $16.04 |
| 10 | Vermont | $35,528 | $17.08 |
| 11 | Oregon | $35,609 | $17.12 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $34,855 | $16.76 |
| 13 | Ohio | $29,935 | $14.39 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $32,739 | $15.74 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $32,464 | $15.61 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $32,160 | $15.46 |
| 17 | Arizona | $30,026 | $14.44 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $32,165 | $15.46 |
| 19 | Kansas | $29,080 | $13.98 |
| 20 | Montana | $31,214 | $15.01 |
| 21 | Missouri | $29,645 | $14.25 |
| 22 | Delaware | $31,719 | $15.25 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $28,850 | $13.87 |
| 24 | Indiana | $27,161 | $13.06 |
| 25 | New Jersey | $31,614 | $15.20 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $26,239 | $12.61 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $29,649 | $14.25 |
| 28 | Alaska | $29,938 | $14.39 |
| 29 | Maine | $30,395 | $14.61 |
| 30 | California | $31,798 | $15.29 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $28,347 | $13.63 |
| 32 | Illinois | $26,644 | $12.81 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $26,967 | $12.96 |
| 34 | Texas | $26,479 | $12.73 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $32,397 | $15.58 |
| 36 | Nevada | $28,124 | $13.52 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $24,773 | $11.91 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $25,325 | $12.18 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $24,930 | $11.99 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $24,500 | $11.78 |
| 41 | Georgia | $24,483 | $11.77 |
| 42 | Maryland | $28,170 | $13.54 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $24,009 | $11.54 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $24,916 | $11.98 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $26,962 | $12.96 |
| 46 | Virginia | $25,947 | $12.47 |
| 47 | Florida | $22,731 | $10.93 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $26,914 | $12.94 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $23,005 | $11.06 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $21,989 | $10.57 |
| 51 | Alabama | $24,533 | $11.79 |
Highest paying cities for kitchen crews
The highest-paying cities for kitchen crews are Seattle, WA, Salt Lake City, UT, and Portland, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $37,965 | $18.25 |
| 2 | Salt Lake City, UT | $35,871 | $17.25 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $35,738 | $17.18 |
| 4 | Longmont, CO | $33,581 | $16.14 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $33,371 | $16.04 |
| 6 | Surprise, AZ | $30,226 | $14.53 |
| 7 | Reno, NV | $29,567 | $14.21 |
| 8 | Dublin, OH | $29,460 | $14.16 |
| 9 | Fort Worth, TX | $27,082 | $13.02 |
| 10 | Ashburn, VA | $26,975 | $12.97 |
| 11 | Grand Island, NE | $26,864 | $12.92 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $26,736 | $12.85 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $24,691 | $11.87 |
| 14 | Tupelo, MS | $24,603 | $11.83 |
Kitchen crew salary details
A kitchen crew's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $37,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a kitchen crew's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 75th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| Average | $29,874 | $2,490 | $14 |
| 25th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
Highest paying kitchen crew jobs
The highest paying types of kitchen crews are crew trainer, associate food scientist, and kitchen lead.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Preparer | $27,717 | $2,310 | $13.33 | 134,113 |
| Cook/Server | $29,716 | $2,476 | $14.29 | 257,582 |
| Food Prep | $25,840 | $2,153 | $12.42 | 168,743 |
| Food Service/Cashier | $28,481 | $2,373 | $13.69 | 247,779 |
| Crew Trainer | $53,128 | $4,427 | $25.54 | 101,338 |
| Crew Person | $27,911 | $2,326 | $13.42 | 127,605 |
Top companies hiring kitchen crews now:
Which companies pay kitchen crews the most?
Kitchen crew salaries at McCalls Catering & Events and Il Fornaio are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average kitchen crew salary at companies like The Habit Burger Grill and Reef are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McCalls Catering & Events | $38,605 | $18.56 |
| 2 | Il Fornaio | $34,605 | $16.64 |
| 3 | The Habit Burger Grill | $34,354 | $16.52 |
| 4 | Reef | $33,566 | $16.14 |
| 5 | DIGS.com | $31,762 | $15.27 |
| 6 | T-4 Products | $31,487 | $15.14 |
| 7 | Kelly Services | $30,780 | $14.80 |
| 8 | TPI | $30,754 | $14.79 |
| 9 | RF | $30,607 | $14.71 |
| 10 | Northbridge Communities | $30,584 | $14.70 |
| 11 | Meritage Hospitality Group | $30,558 | $14.69 |
| 12 | Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza | $30,497 | $14.66 |
| 13 | ESP Systems | $30,458 | $14.64 |
| 14 | Pepperoni's | $30,322 | $14.58 |
| 15 | Raising Cane's | $29,737 | $14.30 |
| 16 | Tokyo Joe's | $29,720 | $14.29 |
| 17 | Aramark | $29,618 | $14.24 |
| 18 | Xanterra | $29,392 | $14.13 |
| 19 | Chicken Salad Chick | $28,849 | $13.87 |
| 20 | Panda Express | $28,274 | $13.59 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Kitchen crew salary trends
The average kitchen crew salary has risen by $6,750 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average kitchen crew earned $23,124 annually, but today, they earn $29,874 a year. That works out to a 21% change in pay for kitchen crews over the last decade.
Compare kitchen crew salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average kitchen crew salary over time
Compare kitchen crew salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Kitchen crew salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $29,900 | $14.36 | +4.7% |
| 2024 | $28,500 | $13.69 | +5.4% |
| 2023 | $27,000 | $12.96 | +5.0% |
| 2022 | $25,600 | $12.31 | +3.7% |
| 2021 | $24,700 | $11.86 | +2.7% |
Recently added kitchen crew salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald's | Kitchen Crew Person | Elmwood Park, IL | 06/24/2025 | $31,305 |
| Illegal Petes | Kitchen Crew Member | Denver, CO | 06/19/2025 | $52,801 |
| GPM Investments | Pride Kitchen Crew | Hartford, CT | 06/17/2025 | $34,122 |
| Zeeks Pizza | Kitchen Crew-North Seattle | Seattle, WA | 06/16/2025 | $62,610 |
| Chick-Fil-A | Kitchen Crew Member (Cook, Prep, ETC.) | Maryville, TN | 06/13/2025 | $28,175 |
| Taco John's | Nights and Closing Kitchen Crew Members (E.Broadway Council Bluffs) | Council Bluffs, IA | 06/12/2025 | $29,218 |
| 3 North Vines | Kitchen Team | Croswell, MI | 06/12/2025 | $29,218 |
| Ono Hawaiian BBQ | Kitchen Crew-ONO 517 | Surprise, AZ | 06/11/2025 | $33,392 |
| GPM Investments | Pride Corporate Kitchen Crew | Springfield, MA | 06/10/2025 | $33,392 |
| Ono Hawaiian BBQ | Kitchen Crew-ONO 222 | Sacramento, CA | 06/08/2025 | $41,740 |
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