National Salary Overview
VS
Cooks, Restaurant earns $5,497 more (17.1%)
Key Metrics Compared
Median Salary
$37,683
$32,185
Average (Mean) Salary
$38,385
$32,829
Total Employment
1,409,810
477,420
States with Higher Pay
51
0
Salary by State: Cooks, Restaurant vs Dishwashers
Showing 51 states where both occupations have BLS data. Cooks, Restaurant pays more in 51 states; Dishwashers pays more in 0.
| State | Cooks, Restaurant | Dishwashers | Difference | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $32,180 | $28,930 | +$3,250 | ||
| Alaska | $40,140 | $33,890 | +$6,250 | ||
| Arizona | $38,670 | $35,130 | +$3,540 | ||
| Arkansas | $30,180 | $27,540 | +$2,640 | ||
| California | $44,880 | $37,870 | +$7,010 | ||
| Colorado | $41,600 | $37,840 | +$3,760 | ||
| Connecticut | $39,480 | $35,550 | +$3,930 | ||
| Delaware | $37,840 | $35,780 | +$2,060 | ||
| District of Columbia | $46,130 | $38,670 | +$7,460 | ||
| Florida | $37,020 | $31,240 | +$5,780 | ||
| Georgia | $35,940 | $29,730 | +$6,210 | ||
| Hawaii | $45,420 | $37,740 | +$7,680 | ||
| Idaho | $36,440 | $29,920 | +$6,520 | ||
| Illinois | $37,580 | $36,180 | +$1,400 | ||
| Indiana | $35,170 | $29,480 | +$5,690 | ||
| Iowa | $35,670 | $29,300 | +$6,370 | ||
| Kansas | $35,130 | $28,060 | +$7,070 | ||
| Kentucky | $34,640 | $29,060 | +$5,580 | ||
| Louisiana | $29,050 | $26,440 | +$2,610 | ||
| Maine | $45,290 | $35,620 | +$9,670 | ||
| Maryland | $37,820 | $34,030 | +$3,790 | ||
| Massachusetts | $45,600 | $37,190 | +$8,410 | ||
| Michigan | $36,980 | $31,300 | +$5,680 | ||
| Minnesota | $38,590 | $34,060 | +$4,530 | ||
| Mississippi | $29,560 | $26,300 | +$3,260 | ||
| Missouri | $36,940 | $32,150 | +$4,790 | ||
| Montana | $38,060 | $30,130 | +$7,930 | ||
| Nebraska | $37,030 | $29,740 | +$7,290 | ||
| Nevada | $38,610 | $34,920 | +$3,690 | ||
| New Hampshire | $40,200 | $34,960 | +$5,240 | ||
| New Jersey | $38,460 | $35,900 | +$2,560 | ||
| New Mexico | $35,020 | $30,520 | +$4,500 | ||
| New York | $43,680 | $35,450 | +$8,230 | ||
| North Carolina | $35,400 | $30,340 | +$5,060 | ||
| North Dakota | $36,470 | $29,980 | +$6,490 | ||
| Ohio | $35,540 | $29,520 | +$6,020 | ||
| Oklahoma | $31,720 | $27,390 | +$4,330 | ||
| Oregon | $43,100 | $36,040 | +$7,060 | ||
| Pennsylvania | $36,580 | $29,950 | +$6,630 | ||
| Rhode Island | $36,510 | $33,960 | +$2,550 | ||
| South Carolina | $35,740 | $29,160 | +$6,580 | ||
| South Dakota | $36,220 | $28,190 | +$8,030 | ||
| Tennessee | $36,420 | $30,530 | +$5,890 | ||
| Texas | $34,760 | $29,610 | +$5,150 | ||
| Utah | $36,490 | $31,830 | +$4,660 | ||
| Vermont | $45,390 | $36,010 | +$9,380 | ||
| Virginia | $36,750 | $33,130 | +$3,620 | ||
| Washington | $46,800 | $40,080 | +$6,720 | ||
| West Virginia | $29,590 | $26,460 | +$3,130 | ||
| Wisconsin | $36,550 | $29,070 | +$7,480 | ||
| Wyoming | $36,830 | $29,600 | +$7,230 |
Explore This Comparison by State
Dive deeper — see how Cooks, Restaurant vs Dishwashers salaries differ in each state, with local data and national benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who makes more: Cooks, Restaurant or Dishwashers?
On average across all states, a Cooks, Restaurant earns more than a Dishwashers. The national median salary difference is $5,497 (17.1%) based on 2025 BLS data.
What is the median salary for a Cooks, Restaurant vs Dishwashers?
The national median salary for a Cooks, Restaurant is $37,683 per year, compared to $32,185 for a Dishwashers, according to 2025 BLS OEWS data.
Which has more jobs: Cooks, Restaurant or Dishwashers?
There are more people employed as Cooks, Restaurant. BLS reports approximately 1,409,810 Cooks, Restaurant positions and 477,420 Dishwashers positions nationwide (2025).
Should I become a Cooks, Restaurant or Dishwashers?
Both Cooks, Restaurant and Dishwashers are viable career paths. Beyond salary, consider factors like job availability in your state, work-life balance, education requirements, growth potential, and personal interests. Visit each occupation's salary page for state-specific data and career insights.
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