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Line cook: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$37,390median pay per year, or $17.98 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $28,700lowest 10% earn less
  2. $34,01025th percentile
  3. $37,390median
  4. $44,62075th percentile
  5. $47,900top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Restaurant cooks, the BLS title for line cooks, had a median pay of $37,390 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 12.1% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+12.1%[2]
Openings per year
218,600[5]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[6]

How much do line cooks make?

The BLS counts line cooks under the title Cooks, Restaurant. In May 2025, the median pay was $37,390 a year, or $17.98 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was a little higher, at $38,730 a year and $18.62 an hour[7].

The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[4]. So restaurant cooks were paid below the typical worker.

Point in the pay range Annual Hourly
Median[1] $37,390 $17.98
Lowest-paid 10% earned less than[3][8] $28,700 $13.80
Lowest-paid 25% earned less than[3][8] $34,010 $16.35
Highest-paid 25% earned more than[3][8] $44,620 $21.45
Highest-paid 10% earned more than[3][8] $47,900 $23.03

A percentile is a boundary line. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or benefits such as health insurance[10].

Pay by state and city

Washington had the highest median among the states, at $46,800 a year[11]. The District of Columbia ($46,130), Massachusetts ($45,600) and Hawaii ($45,420) came next[11]. Louisiana was last on the list, at $29,050[11].

California had the most jobs, at 152,250, followed by Texas, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Kahului-Wailuku, HI had the top median, at $49,560[13]. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,730) and Napa, CA ($47,320) followed[13]. The metro area with the most jobs was New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, with 69,250 and a median of $43,740[14].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[11]$46,80035,140
District of Columbia$46,1307,720
Massachusetts$45,60029,570
Hawaii$45,42011,090
Vermont$45,3902,360
Maine$45,2905,130
California$44,880152,250
New York$43,68071,530
Oregon$43,10021,550
Colorado$41,60030,600
New Hampshire$40,2007,190
Alaska$40,1402,350
Connecticut$39,48014,830
Arizona$38,67030,870
Nevada$38,61027,250
Minnesota$38,59026,080
New Jersey$38,46028,800
Montana$38,0607,580
Delaware$37,8405,280
Maryland$37,82017,690
Illinois$37,58053,540
Nebraska$37,0304,750
Florida$37,020124,040
Michigan$36,98039,100
Missouri$36,94025,990
Wyoming$36,8302,710
Virginia$36,75040,310
Pennsylvania$36,58054,100
Wisconsin$36,55025,410
Rhode Island$36,5106,950
Utah$36,49010,520
North Dakota$36,4704,490
Idaho$36,4408,130
Tennessee$36,42028,220
South Dakota$36,2201,890
Georgia$35,94046,350
South Carolina$35,74025,890
Iowa$35,67012,270
Ohio$35,54046,910
North Carolina$35,40050,150
Indiana$35,17026,960
Kansas$35,13011,620
New Mexico$35,0207,810
Texas$34,760126,620
Kentucky$34,64013,510
Alabama$32,18016,260
Oklahoma$31,72017,050
Arkansas$30,18011,270
West Virginia$29,5906,450
Mississippi$29,56010,770
Louisiana$29,05014,910

How to become a line cook

BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry level for this job[6]. The training details below come from a BLS profile that covers a wider group of cooks, not only restaurant cooks[15].

Some states and localities require a food handler's certification, and many states do not require any certification for cooks[23]. Your state or local licensing board can tell you what applies where you live[23].

With more training and experience, some cooks move up to head cook, chef or food service manager jobs[24].

What line cooks do

Restaurant cooks prepare, season and cook dishes in restaurants. Some also order supplies, keep records or plan the menu[25]. Common tasks reported to O*NET include:

Workers in O*NET report job titles such as fry cook, grill cook, prep cook and breakfast cook[27].

Where they work

In 2025, food services and drinking places was the largest employer of cooks, at 76%[28]. Cooks also work in schools, hospitals and hotels, and some work in private homes[29]. They often make only part of a dish and coordinate with others so meals are done on time[29].

The work means standing for long periods in a fast-paced setting[30]. Kitchens are often crowded. Slips, falls, cuts and burns are the common hazards, and BLS says injuries are seldom serious[31][32]. Gloves, aprons and nonslip shoes help lower the risk[32].

Most cooks work full time, and part-time work is common[33]. Schedules can include early mornings, late evenings, weekends and holidays[33]. Cooks in schools may work only during the school year[34].

Job outlook

BLS projects that employment of restaurant cooks will grow 12.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,417,500 to 1,588,800 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[35]. The projection counts self-employed workers too[2].

BLS expects about 218,600 openings a year on average[5]. Openings come from new jobs and also from workers who retire or switch to other occupations[5]. Each year, 5.9% of workers leave the labor force and 7.5% move to a different occupation[36].

BLS names rising consumer demand for higher-quality food options as a factor behind the outlook[37].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show a job with a low barrier to entry. No formal credential is typical, and training happens on the job[6]. Pay is below the all-occupations median, with a median of $37,390 a year[1][4]. Jobs are projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations, and openings are frequent[2][35][5]. The work involves long periods on your feet in a fast-paced kitchen[30]. Pay and job counts differ a lot by state, so check your own area's figures[11].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[38].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a line cook make an hour?
The median pay for restaurant cooks was $17.98 an hour in May 2025[1]. The average was $18.62 an hour[7].
Do you need a degree to be a line cook?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry level[6]. Employers may require or prefer a high school diploma[16].
How long does it take to become a line cook?
BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training[6]. The length of training varies by type of cook[18]. Culinary programs generally last from a few months to 2 years, and apprenticeships typically about 1 year[20][21].
Are line cooks in demand?
BLS projects 12.1% employment growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[2][35]. About 218,600 openings are projected each year[5].
What is the highest paying state for line cooks?
Washington had the highest median among states, at $46,800 a year in May 2025[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in the US was $37,390 per year and $17.98 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Cooks, Restaurant is projected to grow 12.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,417,500 to 1,588,800 jobs (a change of +171,400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Cooks, Restaurant: 10th percentile $28,700, 25th percentile $34,010, 75th percentile $44,620, 90th percentile $47,900. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 218,600 openings for Cooks, Restaurant are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Cooks, Restaurant: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Cooks, Restaurant was $38,730 per year and $18.62 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Cooks, Restaurant: 10th percentile $13.80, 25th percentile $16.35, 75th percentile $21.45, 90th percentile $23.03. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Cooks, Restaurant in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Cooks, Restaurant jobs: California 152,250; Texas 126,620; Florida 124,040; New York 71,530; Pennsylvania 54,100. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Cooks, Restaurant (areas with at least 100 jobs): Kahului-Wailuku, HI $49,560; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $47,730; Napa, CA $47,320; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $47,170; Barnstable Town, MA $46,930; Portland-South Portland, ME $46,560; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $46,460; Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $46,450. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Cooks, Restaurant jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 69,250 (median $43,740); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 54,320 (median $44,460); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 41,690 (median $38,930); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 37,210 (median $36,920); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 34,430 (median $36,490); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 32,710 (median $35,050). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Cooks" covers Cooks, Restaurant together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. O*NET 35-2014.00 survey of workers (25 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 47%, Less than a High School Diploma 34%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 12%, Some College Courses 6% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET description of Cooks, Restaurant. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET task list for Cooks, Restaurant. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET 35-2014.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Back Line Cook, Banquet Cook, Breakfast Cook, Cook, Fry Cook, Grill Cook, Line Cook, Prep Cook (Preparation Cook). O*NET OnLine
  28. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of cooks in 2025: Food services and drinking places 76%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Cooks, Restaurant: 5.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  37. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Cooks, Restaurant: Demand change - share increases as consumers demand more high-quality food options. BLS Employment Projections
  38. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.