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Grill Cook Salary in the United States

How much does a Grill Cook make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Grill Cook in the United States is $37,520 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $18.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $45,798
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $33,753 to $41,853
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $30,323
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Grill Cook Salaries

A Grill Cook'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Grill Cook Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Grill Cook'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $35,957
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $36,070
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $36,636
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $37,647
  • Expert (over 8 years): $38,921
Levels Salary
Entry Level Grill Cook$35,957
Intermediate Level Grill Cook$36,070
Senior Level Grill Cook$36,636
Specialist Level Grill Cook$37,647
Expert Level Grill Cook$38,921
View as Graph

How Do Grill Cook 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 Grill Cooks. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $41,542.
  • California: $41,384.
  • Massachusetts: $40,832.

Top Paying Cities for Grill Cooks

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:

  • San Jose: $47,323
  • San Francisco: $46,805
  • Oakland: $45,819

What Skills Can Increase a Grill Cook's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 8.91% Job Postings): 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.
  • Healthcare Services (Mentioned in 5.35% Job Postings): The improvement of health via the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, amelioration or cure of disease, illness, injury and other physical and mental impairments in people. Health care is delivered by health professionals and allied health fields.
  • HACCP (Mentioned in 3.61% Job Postings): HACCP is a management system in which food safety is addressed through the analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement to manufacturing and consumption of the finished product.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 8.91%
Healthcare Services 5.35%
HACCP 3.61%
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What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Grill Cook's salary.

  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Time Management: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Assisted Living: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Coordination $40,896
9%
Time Management $39,771
6%
Assisted Living $39,771
6%
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Grill Cook Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Grill Cook roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Construction sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Grill Cook positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Grill Cook as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Grill Cook

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$46,899$23.025%
Construction$45,023$22.020%
Pharmaceuticals$45,023$22.020%
Insurance$43,147$21.015%
Business Services$41,271$20.010%

How Education impacts a Grill Cook's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Grill Cooks enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Grill Cook with a No Diploma is between $39,539 and $41,869).

Grill Cook Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Grill Cook
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 5.2%
High School 53.5%
Associates 30.3%
Bachelors 10.0%
Masters 0.6%
Doctorate 0.3%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Grill Cook'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 September 01, 2026
$33,753
Average $37,520/year
$41,853
$2,813
Average $3,127/month
$3,488
$649
Average $722/week
$805
$16
Average $18/hour
$20
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $41,853 $3,488 $805 $20
Average $37,520 $3,127 $722 $18
25th Percentile $33,753 $2,813 $649 $16

Most common benefits for Grill Cook

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Grill Cook

Here are companies hiring for Grill Cook and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Grill Cook

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Grill Cook?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Grill Cook roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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.

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