New Jersey ranks 14th of 51 states and D.C. for cooks, restaurant pay, trailing top-paying Massachusetts ($46,280) by $8,200 — a 22% gap.
Cooks, Restaurant are less concentrated in New Jersey than the U.S. average — a location quotient of 0.77 means the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.30× below the national share.
New Jersey employs roughly 2.1% of all cooks, restaurant in the country (30,720 workers).
Salary Range: 10th to 90th Percentile
Full Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $31,470 | $15.13 |
| 25th percentile | $36,610 | $17.60 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $38,080 | $18.31 |
| 75th percentile | $45,750 | $21.99 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,010 | $23.56 |
| Mean (average) | $40,900 | $19.66 |
How New Jersey Compares
| State | Median Annual | vs. New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey (current) | $38,080 | n/a |
| Massachusetts | $46,280 | +22% |
| District of Columbia | $45,230 | +19% |
| Washington | $44,980 | +18% |
| Maine | $44,870 | +18% |
| Hawaii | $44,710 | +17% |
| Vermont | $44,560 | +17% |
| California | $44,290 | +16% |
| New York | $39,890 | +5% |
Showing top-paying states with available data. View all states →
Related Occupations in New Jersey
| Occupation | Median Annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers | $38,120 | 3,200 |
| Orderlies | $38,140 | 3,530 |
| Library Assistants, Clerical | $37,980 | 2,610 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $38,190 | 930 |
| Tire Repairers and Changers | $38,560 | 1,490 |
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $37,580 | 3,460 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Cooks, Restaurant salary in New Jersey?
The mean cooks, restaurant salary in New Jersey is $40,900 per year. The median (middle) salary is $38,080 per year.
What is the starting salary for a Cooks, Restaurant in New Jersey?
Entry-level cooks, restaurants (10th percentile) in New Jersey typically earn around $31,470 per year. Workers at the 25th percentile earn approximately $36,610 per year.
What is the highest Cooks, Restaurant salary in New Jersey?
Top earners (90th percentile) in this occupation in New Jersey make approximately $49,010 per year. Those in the 75th percentile earn around $45,750 per year.
How does the New Jersey Cooks, Restaurant salary compare to the national average?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in New Jersey is $38,080, which is +3% above national average of $36,830.