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Kitchen Team Member Cook Salary in the United States

How much does a Kitchen Team Member Cook make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Kitchen Team Member Cook in the United States is $38,733 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $47,279
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $34,845 to $43,207
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $31,304
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Kitchen Team Member Cook Salaries

A Kitchen Team Member 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 Kitchen Team Member Cook Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Kitchen Team Member 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): $37,121
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $37,237
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $37,821
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $38,865
  • Expert (over 8 years): $40,181
Levels Salary
Entry Level Kitchen Team Member Cook$37,121
Intermediate Level Kitchen Team Member Cook$37,237
Senior Level Kitchen Team Member Cook$37,821
Specialist Level Kitchen Team Member Cook$38,865
Expert Level Kitchen Team Member Cook$40,181
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How Do Kitchen Team Member 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 Kitchen Team Member Cooks. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $42,886.
  • California: $42,723.
  • Massachusetts: $42,153.

Top Paying Cities for Kitchen Team Member 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: $48,854
  • San Francisco: $48,319
  • Oakland: $47,301

What Skills Can Increase a Kitchen Team Member 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 Kitchen Team Member 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 $42,219
9%
Time Management $41,057
6%
Assisted Living $41,057
6%
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Kitchen Team Member Cook Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Kitchen Team Member 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, Kitchen Team Member Cook positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Kitchen Team Member Cook as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Kitchen Team Member Cook

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$48,417$23.025%
Construction$46,480$22.020%
Pharmaceuticals$46,480$22.020%
Insurance$44,543$21.015%
Business Services$42,607$20.010%

How Education impacts a Kitchen Team Member Cook's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Kitchen Team Member 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 Kitchen Team Member Cook with a No Diploma is between $39,539 and $41,869).

Kitchen Team Member Cook Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Kitchen Team Member 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

Kitchen Team Member Cook Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Kitchen Team Member 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
$34,845
Average $38,733/year
$43,207
$2,904
Average $3,228/month
$3,601
$670
Average $745/week
$831
$17
Average $19/hour
$21
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $43,207 $3,601 $831 $21
Average $38,733 $3,228 $745 $19
25th Percentile $34,845 $2,904 $670 $17

Most common benefits for Kitchen Team Member Cook

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

Common company salaries for Kitchen Team Member Cook

Here are companies hiring for Kitchen Team Member Cook and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Kitchen Team Member Cook

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Kitchen Team Member Cook?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Kitchen Team Member 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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