Cooks, Restaurant vs. Waiters and Waitresses: Who Earns More?
Cooks, Restaurants out-earn Waiters and Waitressess by $2K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Cooks, Restaurants land at $37,390 and Waiters and Waitressess at $35,230. The education gap is real: cooks, restaurant programs typically require no formal educational credential, while waiters and waitress programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Cooks, Restaurants is Washington ($46,800); for Waiters and Waitressess it's Hawaii ($62,390).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Cooks, Restaurant median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Cooks, Restaurants or Waiters and Waitressess?
Cooks, Restaurants earn more nationally. The median is $37,390 for Cooks, Restaurants versus $35,230 for Waiters and Waitressess, a difference of $2K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Cooks, Restaurant or Waiters and Waitresses?
BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.
Which requires more education, Cooks, Restaurant or Waiters and Waitresses?
Cooks, Restaurant typically requires no formal educational credential. Waiters and Waitresses requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Cooks, Restaurants get paid the most?
Washington is the top-paying state for Cooks, Restaurants at $46,800/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Cooks, Restaurant vs. Waiters and Waitresses pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Cooks, Restaurants earn $46,800 vs. $56,130 for Waiters and Waitressess. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.