CDCareer Decision

Cooks, Restaurant Salary in DC

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Cooks, Restaurant in DC have a median annual salary of $46,130, with 7,720 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $36,440 at the 10th percentile to $53,020 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$46,130

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$22.18

Employment

7,720

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$36,440
10th
$39,960
25th
$46,130
Median
$47,890
75th
$53,020
90th

Local compared with national

DC

$46,130

Median annual · 2025

United States

$37,390

Median annual · 2025

The DC median is 23.4% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $8,740).

Top skills

  1. 1.SpeakingImportance 3.0
  2. 2.Critical ThinkingImportance 3.0
  3. 3.MonitoringImportance 3.0
  4. 4.Time ManagementImportance 3.0
  5. 5.Active ListeningImportance 2.9
  6. 6.Reading ComprehensionImportance 2.8
  7. 7.Active LearningImportance 2.8
  8. 8.CoordinationImportance 2.6
  9. 9.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 2.6
  10. 10.Social PerceptivenessImportance 2.5
  11. 11.Operations MonitoringImportance 2.5
  12. 12.Service OrientationImportance 2.4

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
Job zone
2

Technology used

  • Facebook
  • Food safety labeling systems
  • Menu planning software
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Word
  • Point of sale POS restaurant software
  • Recipe cost control software

Common tasks

  • Substitute for or assist other cooks during emergencies or rush periods.
  • Ensure freshness of food and ingredients by checking for quality, keeping track of old and new items, and rotating stock.
  • Season and cook food according to recipes or personal judgment and experience.
  • Coordinate and supervise work of kitchen staff.
  • Bake, roast, broil, and steam meats, fish, vegetables, and other foods.
  • Weigh, measure, and mix ingredients according to recipes or personal judgment, using various kitchen utensils and equipment.
  • Turn or stir foods to ensure even cooking.
  • Observe and test foods to determine if they have been cooked sufficiently, using methods such as tasting, smelling, or piercing them with utensils.
  • Wash, peel, cut, and seed fruits and vegetables to prepare them for consumption.
  • Bake breads, rolls, cakes, and pastries.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Cooks, Restaurant salary in other locations

Other occupations in DC