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Specialty cook salary
Average specialty cook salary
$16.26
Average Specialty Cook Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a specialty cook is approximately $33,829 per year, or about $16 per hour. This figure can vary based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific culinary niche.
How Much Does a Specialty Cook Make?
Entry-level specialty cooks typically earn around $30,000 annually, while those with several years of experience can command salaries exceeding $40,000. The potential for increased earnings is significant, especially in bustling urban areas.
Where Can a Specialty Cook Earn More?
Specialty cooks can find higher-paying opportunities in metropolitan regions like New York City, San Francisco, and Chicago. Factors such as local demand for culinary diversity and the presence of high-end restaurants contribute to these salary disparities.
Highest Paying Cities for Specialty Cooks
- New York City, NY
- San Francisco, CA
- Chicago, IL
Specialty Cook Salaries by Experience Level
Experience plays a crucial role in salary expectations. Cooks with specialized skills and certifications often see higher wages and better job offers. Continuing education and culinary school attendance can also enhance earning potential.
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Where can a Specialty Cook earn more?
Specialty cook salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level specialty cook | $25,400 | $12.19 |
| Mid-level specialty cook | $30,600 | $14.73 |
| Senior-level specialty cook | $36,400 | $17.50 |
Average specialty cook salary by state
The highest-paying states for specialty cooks are Hawaii, Washington, and Nevada. The lowest average specialty cook salary states are Kansas, Tennessee, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for specialty cooks
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $42,416 | $20.39 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $48,040 | $23.10 |
| 3 | Washington | $42,775 | $20.56 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $40,902 | $19.66 |
| 5 | Alaska | $39,547 | $19.01 |
| 6 | Idaho | $37,557 | $18.06 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $37,379 | $17.97 |
| 8 | Arizona | $35,209 | $16.93 |
| 9 | New York | $40,555 | $19.50 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $35,981 | $17.30 |
| 11 | Missouri | $33,758 | $16.23 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $39,152 | $18.82 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $37,754 | $18.15 |
| 14 | Oregon | $37,903 | $18.22 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $38,529 | $18.52 |
| 16 | Michigan | $33,516 | $16.11 |
| 17 | California | $38,977 | $18.74 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $32,653 | $15.70 |
| 19 | Colorado | $35,162 | $16.90 |
| 20 | Vermont | $36,912 | $17.75 |
| 21 | Maine | $35,488 | $17.06 |
| 22 | Illinois | $34,468 | $16.57 |
| 23 | Florida | $33,072 | $15.90 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $32,691 | $15.72 |
| 25 | Iowa | $32,552 | $15.65 |
| 26 | Utah | $33,190 | $15.96 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $31,254 | $15.03 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $33,463 | $16.09 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $32,335 | $15.55 |
| 30 | Delaware | $34,585 | $16.63 |
| 31 | Rhode Island | $34,157 | $16.42 |
| 32 | Virginia | $34,314 | $16.50 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $32,259 | $15.51 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $31,668 | $15.22 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $29,935 | $14.39 |
| 36 | District of Columbia | $37,779 | $18.16 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $30,554 | $14.69 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $29,365 | $14.12 |
| 39 | Texas | $30,693 | $14.76 |
| 40 | Ohio | $30,538 | $14.68 |
| 41 | Montana | $31,778 | $15.28 |
| 42 | Maryland | $33,590 | $16.15 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $31,010 | $14.91 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $31,613 | $15.20 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $29,541 | $14.20 |
| 46 | Kansas | $29,445 | $14.16 |
| 47 | Indiana | $28,857 | $13.87 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $29,135 | $14.01 |
| 49 | Georgia | $30,067 | $14.46 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $26,682 | $12.83 |
| 51 | Alabama | $27,843 | $13.39 |
Highest paying cities for specialty cooks
The highest-paying cities for specialty cooks are Vancouver, WA, Las Vegas, NV, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vancouver, WA | $43,094 | $20.72 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $42,271 | $20.32 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $40,505 | $19.47 |
| 4 | Dublin, CA | $39,480 | $18.98 |
| 5 | Beverly, MA | $39,191 | $18.84 |
| 6 | Edison, NJ | $38,558 | $18.54 |
| 7 | Beaverton, OR | $37,852 | $18.20 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $37,739 | $18.14 |
| 9 | Loveland, CO | $35,176 | $16.91 |
| 10 | Arlington, VA | $34,951 | $16.80 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $34,506 | $16.59 |
| 12 | Annapolis, MD | $33,573 | $16.14 |
| 13 | Tampa, FL | $33,117 | $15.92 |
| 14 | Allentown, PA | $32,904 | $15.82 |
| 15 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $32,586 | $15.67 |
| 16 | Milwaukee, WI | $32,318 | $15.54 |
| 17 | Cleveland, OH | $30,998 | $14.90 |
| 18 | Matthews, NC | $30,708 | $14.76 |
| 19 | Arlington, TX | $30,583 | $14.70 |
| 20 | Savannah, GA | $29,868 | $14.36 |
Specialty cook salary details
A specialty cook's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $42,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a specialty cook's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 75th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| Average | $33,829 | $2,819 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
Highest paying specialty cook jobs
The highest paying types of specialty cooks are cook manager, lead cook, and banquet cook.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Line Cook, Prep Cook | $32,982 | $2,748 | $15.86 | 164,756 |
| Line Cook/Dishwasher | $34,435 | $2,870 | $16.56 | 133,370 |
| Prep Cook/Dishwasher | $31,687 | $2,641 | $15.23 | 126,351 |
| Cook | $31,803 | $2,650 | $15.29 | 184,818 |
| Kitchen Cook | $31,452 | $2,621 | $15.12 | 250,354 |
| Short Order Cook | $30,734 | $2,561 | $14.78 | 176,187 |
Top companies hiring specialty cooks now:
Which companies pay specialty cooks the most?
Specialty cook salaries at Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics and The Walt Disney Company are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average specialty cook salary at companies like Resorts World Catskills and Chumash Casino Resort are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics | $46,230 | $22.23 |
| 2 | The Walt Disney Company | $40,918 | $19.67 |
| 3 | Resorts World Catskills | $39,692 | $19.08 |
| 4 | Chumash Casino Resort | $38,465 | $18.49 |
| 5 | Ocean Casino Resort | $37,143 | $17.86 |
| 6 | Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City | $36,952 | $17.77 |
| 7 | Pala Casino Spa and Resort | $36,528 | $17.56 |
| 8 | Penn National Gaming | $36,131 | $17.37 |
| 9 | Cache Creek Casino Resort | $36,115 | $17.36 |
| 10 | DraftKings at Casino Queen | $35,680 | $17.15 |
| 11 | Remote | $35,403 | $17.02 |
| 12 | Saugatuck Harbor Yacht Club | $35,195 | $16.92 |
| 13 | Marriott International | $35,182 | $16.91 |
| 14 | Noble House | $35,063 | $16.86 |
| 15 | Jade Equipment | $34,713 | $16.69 |
| 16 | Gate Gourmet Inc | $34,020 | $16.36 |
| 17 | Kabobs | $34,004 | $16.35 |
| 18 | C.J. Foods, Inc. | $33,934 | $16.31 |
| 19 | Eagle Distributing Co. | $33,868 | $16.28 |
| 20 | LA Michoacana | $33,620 | $16.16 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Specialty cook salary trends
The average specialty cook salary has risen by $7,893 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average specialty cook earned $25,936 annually, but today, they earn $33,829 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for specialty cooks over the last decade.
Compare specialty cook salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average specialty cook salary over time
Compare specialty cook salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Specialty cook salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,800 | $16.26 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $32,600 | $15.69 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $31,200 | $14.98 | +5.1% |
| 2022 | $29,600 | $14.22 | +4.1% |
| 2021 | $28,400 | $13.63 | +4.3% |
Recently added specialty cook salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak View Group | Specialty Cook | | Amalie Arena | Tampa, FL | 06/24/2025 | $52,175 |
| Hard Rock International | Specialty Cook-Council OAK | Atlantic City, NJ | 06/19/2025 | $56,349 |
| Penn Entertainment | Specialty Cook | Joliet, IL | 06/05/2025 | $45,768 |
| Marriott International | Specialty Cook | Avon, CO | 05/26/2025 | $65,469 |
| Sitio de Experiencia de Candidatos | Specialty Cook | Avon, CO | 05/26/2025 | $65,469 |
| Marriott | Fine Dining Specialty Cook | Chandler, AZ | 05/22/2025 | $51,862 |
| Marriott International | Specialty Cook | Avon, OH | 05/19/2025 | $65,469 |
| Legends Bay Casino | Steak House Specialty Cook | Sparks, NV | 05/18/2025 | $48,001 |
| MGM Resorts | Specialty Cook-Red Plate-The Cosmopolitan | Las Vegas, NV | 05/17/2025 | $48,711 |
| Compass Group, North America | Specialty Cook | New York, NY | 05/14/2025 | $59,688 |
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