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Cooks, Restaurant Hourly Wage in New Jersey (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in New Jersey is $18.49/hour, based on 2025 BLS data.

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • New Jersey hourly wage data • Updated 2026-05-19

Entry-Level (P10)
$15.49
/hour
Median (P50)
$18.49
/hour
Senior (P90)
$24.04
/hour

Annual Salary Equivalent

$38,460
Based on 2,080 work hours/year (40 hours/week, 52 weeks/year). View annual salary page.

New Jersey vs National Average

Entry-Level (P10)
$15.49
National: $14.31
+8.2%
Median (P50)
$18.49
National: $18.12
+2.0%
Senior (P90)
$24.04
National: $22.85
+5.2%

Hourly Wage Breakdown by Percentile

Percentile Hourly Rate Weekly (×40h) Monthly (×173.3h) Annual (×2,080h)
Entry-Level (P10) $15.49 $620 $2685 $32,220
Q1 (P25) $17.25 $690 $2990 $35,880
Median (P50) $18.49 $740 $3205 $38,460
Q3 (P75) $21.92 $877 $3800 $45,600
Senior (P90) $24.04 $962 $4168 $50,010

Note: Weekly = hourly × 40 hours. Monthly = hourly × 173.3 hours (avg). Annual = hourly × 2,080 hours.

Highest-Paying States for Cooks, Restaurant

#1
$22.5
$22.5/hr
+24.2%
#2
$22.18
$22.18/hr
+22.4%
#3
$21.92
$21.92/hr
+21.0%
#4
$21.84
$21.84/hr
+20.5%
#5
$21.82
$21.82/hr
+20.4%
#6
$21.77
$21.77/hr
+20.1%
#7
$21.58
$21.58/hr
+19.1%
#8
$21.0
$21.0/hr
+15.9%
#9
$20.72
$20.72/hr
+14.3%
#10
$20.0
$20.0/hr
+10.4%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in New Jersey?

The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in New Jersey is $18.49/hour (2025 BLS data). This equals approximately $38,460.0 per year based on 2,080 work hours.

How does New Jersey Cooks, Restaurant hourly pay compare to national average?

The median hourly rate for Cooks, Restaurant in New Jersey is $18.49/hr compared to the national average of $18.12/hr — higher by $0.37/hr.

What is the entry-level hourly rate for Cooks, Restaurant in New Jersey?

Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant professionals in New Jersey earn approximately $15.49/hour (10th percentile), which equals $32,220.0/year. Senior-level professionals earn $24.04/hour.

How much does a senior Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in New Jersey?

Senior-level Cooks, Restaurant professionals in New Jersey (90th percentile) earn approximately $24.04/hour, or $50,010.0/year.

How is hourly wage calculated from annual salary?

Hourly wages are calculated by dividing annual salary by 2,080 hours (52 weeks × 40 hours/week). This is the standard full-time conversion used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Data Source

Hourly wage data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. This data reflects median and percentile wages for Cooks, Restaurant (SOC 352014) in New Jersey.

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