Assistant Cook/Cook Salary in the United States

How much does an Assistant Cook/Cook make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Assistant Cook/Cook in the United States is $39,177 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $45,498
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $35,862 to $42,486
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32,843
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View as table View as graph 25% $35,862 10% $32,843 90% $45,498 75% $42,486 $39,177 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Assistant Cook/Cook Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $42,486 $3,540 $817 $20
Average $39,177 $3,265 $753 $19
25th Percentile $35,862 $2,988 $690 $17
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Key Factors That Influence Assistant Cook/Cook Salaries

An Assistant Cook/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 Assistant Cook/Cook Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Assistant Cook/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): $38,220
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $38,580
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $39,269
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $39,407
  • Expert (over 8 years): $39,499
Levels Salary
Entry Level Assistant Cook/Cook$38,220
Intermediate Level Assistant Cook/Cook$38,580
Senior Level Assistant Cook/Cook$39,269
Specialist Level Assistant Cook/Cook$39,407
Expert Level Assistant Cook/Cook$39,499
$38,220 0 yr
$38,580 < 2 yrs
$39,269 2-4 yrs
$39,407 5-8 yrs
$39,499 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Assistant Cook/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 Assistant Cook/Cooks. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $43,377.
  • California: $43,213.
  • Massachusetts: $42,637.

Top Paying Cities for Assistant Cook/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: $49,414
  • San Francisco: $48,929
  • Oakland: $47,843

What Skills Can Increase an Assistant Cook/Cook's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 29.14% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Food Safety (Mentioned in 2.16% Job Postings): Applying procedures during food preparation, processing, storage, and distribution to ensure consumers are safe from foodborne illnesses.
  • Foodservice (Mentioned in 1.13% Job Postings): The foodservice or catering industry includes the businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home. It includes restaurants, school and hospital cafeterias, catering operations, and many other formats.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 29.14%
Food Safety 2.16%
Foodservice 1.13%
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 an Assistant Cook/Cook's salary.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Store Management: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • WFM: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collaboration
$41,136
5%
Store Management
$41,136
5%
WFM
$41,136
5%
Housekeeping
$40,744
4%
Coaching
$40,744
4%
Medical Prescriptions
$40,744
4%
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How Education impacts an Assistant Cook/Cook's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Assistant Cook/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 an Assistant Cook/Cook with a No Diploma is between $31,664 and $34,050).

Assistant Cook/Cook Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Assistant Cook/Cook
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 10.5%
High School 52.3%
Associates 12.5%
Bachelors 22.0%
Masters 2.4%
Doctorate 0.3%
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Assistant Cook/Cook Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Assistant Cook/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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Assistant Cook/Cook

Salaries for an Assistant Cook/Cook can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $38,675 in 2023 to around $38,628 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Assistant Cook/Cook salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Assistant Cook/Cook Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$38,675
2024
$38,931
2025
$38,628
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $38,675
2024 $38,931
2025 $38,628
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Assistant Cook/Cook

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Assistant Cook/Cook

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

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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.)

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