Cooks, Restaurant vs. Waiters and Waitresses: Who Earns More?
Cooks, Restaurant out-earn Waiters and Waitresses by $2K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Cooks, Restaurant land at $37,390 and Waiters and Waitresses 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, Restaurant is Washington ($46,800); for Waiters and Waitresses 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, Restaurant or Waiters and Waitresses?
Cooks, Restaurant earn more nationally. The median is $37,390 for Cooks, Restaurant versus $35,230 for Waiters and Waitresses, a difference of $2K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Cooks, Restaurant or Waiters and Waitresses?
Cooks, Restaurant has the better 10-year outlook at 14.9% projected growth, compared to -0.7% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
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, Restaurant get paid the most?
Washington is the top-paying state for Cooks, Restaurant 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, Restaurant earn $46,800 vs. $56,130 for Waiters and Waitresses. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.