What are the main factors that influence a Cook III's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Cook 's salary?

A Cook 's salary grows with experience: a Cook I (0-1 years)earns $34,266, a Cook II (1-3 years)earns $38,154, a Cook III (3-5 years)earns $42,974, a Sous Chef (5+ years)earns $56,440,

What are the highest paying states for a Cook III?

Cook III salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Cook III roles are District of Columbia $46,984, California $46,806, Massachusetts $46,182. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Cook roles make?

Salaries for Cook level roles vary by specialization: Pastry Cook: $72,116; Assistant Cook/Cook: $39,187; Cook - Institution: $37,966; Cook II: $37,676; Fry Cook: $36,797.

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Cook III Salary in Delaware

How much does a Cook III make in Delaware?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Cook III in Delaware is $42,974 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $21.

However, a Cook III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $52,355
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $38,603 to $47,885
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $34,624

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Cook III Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$47,885	$3,990	$921	$23
Average	$42,974	$3,581	$826	$21
25th Percentile	$38,603	$3,217	$742	$19

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Key Factors That Influence Cook III Salaries

A Cook III's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Cook Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Cook III's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Cook I (0-1 years): $34,266
Cook II (1-3 years): $38,154
Cook III (3-5 years): $42,974
Sous Chef (5+ years): $56,440

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Cook I	0-1 years	$34,266
Cook II	1-3 years	$38,154
Cook III	3-5 years	$42,974
Sous Chef	5+ years	$56,440

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Cook III Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Cook IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $46,984.
California: $46,806.
Massachusetts: $46,182.

District of Columbia $46,984 California $46,806 Massachusetts $46,182 Washington $46,012 New Jersey $45,995 Alaska $45,936 Connecticut $45,350 New York $45,113

Hawaii $44,353 Rhode Island $43,997 Maryland $43,755 Minnesota $43,424 Colorado $43,296 Illinois $43,254 Oregon $43,093 Delaware $42,974

New Hampshire $42,899 Virginia $42,732 Pennsylvania $42,244 Nevada $41,998 North Dakota $41,917 Michigan $41,790 Wisconsin $41,743 Vermont $41,650

Texas $41,391 Maine $41,374 Arizona $41,349 Ohio $41,319 Georgia $40,929 Indiana $40,733 Wyoming $40,695 Utah $40,636

Iowa $40,610 Kansas $40,407 Louisiana $40,347 North Carolina $40,326 Missouri $40,317 Florida $40,152 Montana $40,063 Nebraska $39,978

Kentucky $39,931 South Carolina $39,762 Tennessee $39,656 Idaho $39,613 New Mexico $39,303 Oklahoma $39,235 Alabama $38,985 South Dakota $38,565

Arkansas $38,336 West Virginia $38,213 Mississippi $37,844

Top Paying Cities for Cook IIIs

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

Lincoln: $42,780
Little Creek: $43,094
Magnolia: $43,032

Lincoln, DE $42,780 Little Creek, DE $43,094 Magnolia, DE $43,032 Milford, DE $42,889 Marydel, DE $42,959 Millsboro, DE $42,601 Millville, DE $42,667 Milton, DE $42,741

Nassau, DE $42,772 Ocean View, DE $42,659 Rehoboth Beach, DE $42,741 Seaford, DE $42,766 Selbyville, DE $42,589 Smyrna, DE $43,123 Viola, DE $42,925 Woodside, DE $43,040

Bear, DE $42,941 Newark, DE $42,925 Claymont, DE $43,013 Delaware City, DE $42,968 Hockessin, DE $42,921 Kirkwood, DE $42,959 Middletown, DE $42,976 Montchanin, DE $42,931

New Castle, DE $42,937 Odessa, DE $42,997 Port Penn, DE $43,026 Rockland, DE $42,935 Saint Georges, DE $42,962 Townsend, DE $43,029 Winterthur, DE $42,940 Lewes, DE $42,757

Wilmington, DE $42,923 Dover, DE $43,094 Dover Afb, DE $42,867 Bethany Beach, DE $42,615 Bethel, DE $42,659 Bridgeville, DE $42,759 Camden Wyoming, DE $42,972 Cheswold, DE $43,080

Clayton, DE $43,081 Dagsboro, DE $42,585 Delmar, DE $42,516 Ellendale, DE $42,645 Felton, DE $42,886 Fenwick Island, DE $42,594 Frankford, DE $42,520 Frederica, DE $42,928

Georgetown, DE $42,569 Greenwood, DE $42,766 Harbeson, DE $42,614 Harrington, DE $42,831 Hartly, DE $42,965 Houston, DE $42,770 Kenton, DE $43,083 Laurel, DE $42,543

Yorklyn, DE $42,934

Cook III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Cook III's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on May 01, 2026

$38,603

Average $42,974/year

$47,885

$3,217

Average $3,581/month

$3,990

$742

Average $826/week

$921

$19

Average $21/hour

$23

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$47,885	$3,990	$921	$23
Average	$42,974	$3,581	$826	$21
25th Percentile	$38,603	$3,217	$742	$19

Cook III Salary Growth & Career Path

Cook III

Chef

Sous Chef

Pastry Chef

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Cook III, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Cook III Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role	Estimate Salary	Projected Raise
Chef	$59,839	39%
Sous Chef	$56,440	31%
Pastry Chef	$70,459	64%

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