As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Cook I in the United States is $33,842. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $31,090 to $36,623, with most professionals earning between $28,584 and $39,155.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $36,623 | $3,052 | $704 | $18 |
| Average | $33,842 | $2,820 | $651 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $31,090 | $2,591 | $598 | $15 |
An entry-level Cook I with less than 1 year of experience earns about $32,938. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $33,144. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $34,050. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $34,880, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $35,087.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Cook I | $32,938 |
| Intermediate Level Cook I | $33,144 |
| Senior Level Cook I | $34,050 |
| Specialist Level Cook I | $34,880 |
| Expert Level Cook I | $35,087 |
| Entry Level | 3% |
| Mid Level | 2% |
| Senior Level | 1% |
| Top Level | 3% |
| Experienced | 4% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of April 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Cook I compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $33,155 in 2023 to approximately $33,018 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Cook I salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Cook I information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Cook I job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Cook I and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $33,842 | 64.0% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $2,589 | 4.9% | ||
| 401K/403B | $1,421 | 2.7% | ||
| Disability | $677 | 1.3% | ||
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 15.8% | ||
| Pension | $1,827 | 3.5% | ||
| Time Off | $4,165 | 7.9% | ||
| Total Compensation | $52,874 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 10.9% |
| High School | 29.7% |
| Associates | 45.3% |
| Bachelors | 14.1% |
What Am I Worth?
The average annual salary of Cook I is $33,842. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Cook I is $16; the average weekly pay of Cook I is $651; the average monthly pay of Cook I is $2,820.
A Cook I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Cook I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Cook I is $42,685.
The highest pay for Cook I is $39,155.
The lowest pay for Cook I is $28,584.
Prepares menu dishes following established recipes and using designated ingredients that meet production and quality standards. Utilizes portion and presentation standards to create appealing and flavorful dishes. May prepare unique dishes to fulfill customer requests. Follows all applicable guidelines and regulations for food handling and safety. Maintains a clean and orderly workstation and kitchen equipment. Typically requires a high school diploma. Typically reports to a sous chef or executive chef. Works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area. Possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. May require 0-1 year of general work experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Commitment: An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
Square: Square in geometry, a plane figure with four equal sides and four right (90°) angles. A square is a special kind of rectangle and a special kind of parallelogram.
Health Care: Health care or healthcare is the improvement of health via the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, amelioration, or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in people.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
