Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
What does a Cooks, Restaurant salary really buy you in Utah?
Utah is 5.5% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Utah's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 94.5, meaning prices are 5.5% lower the national average. A Cooks, Restaurant earning $36,490 in Utah has the equivalent purchasing power of $38,613 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Utah's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $28,800 | $30,476 | +$1,676 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $31,200 | $33,015 | +$1,815 |
| Median (P50) | $36,490 | $38,613 | +$2,123 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $41,950 | $44,391 | +$2,441 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $46,580 | $49,291 | +$2,711 |
A Cooks, Restaurant in Utah earns $36,490 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 6% further — like earning $38,613 in an average-cost state. This makes Utah one of the best value states for this occupation.
With an RPP of 94.5, Utah is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Cooks, Restaurant is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.
After applying Utah's RPP, the $36,490 median salary translates to $38,614 in real terms — a 5.8% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Cooks, Restaurant.
Utah's rank of #29 of 51 states means real purchasing power for Cooks, Restaurant trails the national half-way line.
Where does Cooks, Restaurant salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Utah ranks #29 out of 51 states for Cooks, Restaurant after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Cooks, Restaurant take-home pay in Utah after taxes →
A Cooks, Restaurant in Utah earns a median salary of $36,490 per year. After adjusting for Utah's cost of living (RPP=94.5), the real purchasing power is $38,613 — a +5.8% difference.
Utah's cost of living is 5.5% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Utah is 94.5 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Cooks, Restaurant in Utah: $36,490 x (100 / 94.5) = $38,613. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Cooks, Restaurant in Utah enjoys 5.8% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.
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