First Cook
First Cook Salary
$22K - $24.5K
1% of jobs
$24.5K - $27K
2% of jobs
$27K - $29.5K
8% of jobs
$32K is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$29.5K - $32K
14% of jobs
$32K - $34.5K
16% of jobs
The median wage is $35.9K / yr.
$34.5K - $37K
15% of jobs
$37K - $39.5K
16% of jobs
$40K is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
$39.5K - $42K
12% of jobs
$42K - $44.5K
7% of jobs
$44.5K - $47K
5% of jobs
$47K - $49.5K
4% of jobs
$22K
$36K
$49K
$36,873
/year
$17.73
/hour
First Cook Salary Comparison by Location
Nationwide
United States
$36,873
Columbus
Ohio
$35,616
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How much does a First Cook make?
As of Jun 28, 2026, the average annual pay for a First Cook in the United States is $36,873 a year.
Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $17.73 an hour. This is the equivalent of $709/week or $3,072/month.
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $49,000 and as low as $22,000, the majority of First Cook salaries currently range between $32,000 (25th percentile) to $40,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $46,000 annually across the United States. The average pay range for a First Cook varies greatly (by as much as 8000), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.
A First Cook in your area makes on average $35,616 per year, or $1,257 (3.409%) less than the national average annual salary of $36,873. Ohio ranks number 31 out of 50 states nationwide for First Cook salaries.
To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for First Cook jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.
Find your next high paying job as a First Cook on ZipRecruiter today.
What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for First Cook Jobs
We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a First Cook job is above the national average. Topping the list is Coronado, CA, , with Welches, OR, and Nome, AK, close behind in the second and third positions. Nome, AK, beats the national average by $8,868 (24.1%), and Coronado, CA, furthers that trend with another $9,517 (25.8%) above the $36,873 average.
With these 10 cities having average salaries higher than the national average, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a First Cook appears to be exceedingly fruitful.
Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies very little at 4% between Coronado, CA, and Sitka, AK, , reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for a First Cook role.
City | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
Coronado, CA | $46,390 | $22.30 |
Welches, OR | $46,257 | $22.24 |
Nome, AK | $45,741 | $21.99 |
Berkeley, CA | $45,397 | $21.83 |
Berlin Corners, VT | $45,066 | $21.67 |
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA | $44,795 | $21.54 |
Port Orchard, WA | $44,639 | $21.46 |
Princeville, HI | $44,590 | $21.44 |
Aspen, CO | $44,569 | $21.43 |
Sitka, AK | $44,420 | $21.36 |
What are Top 5 Best Paying Related First Cook Jobs in the U.S.
We found a few related jobs that pay more than jobs in the First Cook category.
For example Veterans Crisis Line jobs pay as much as $6,198 (16.8%) more than the average First Cook salary of $36,873. If you're qualified, finding work as a Veterans Crisis Line may help you make more money than that of the average First Cook position.
Job Title | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
Veterans Crisis Line | $43,071 | $20.71 |
Dietary Worker | $41,423 | $19.91 |
Resident Care Aide | $35,211 | $16.93 |
School Kitchen Aide | $31,936 | $15.35 |
Food Service Aide | $31,118 | $14.96 |
About Our Data
ZipRecruiter salary estimates, histograms, trends and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third party data sources.
