Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Base salary
$40,500
National baseline
Target bonus
$3,000
7.5% of base
Total target cash
$43,500
Base plus target bonus
Bonus percentiles:25th$2,00050th$3,00075th$5,000
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
Typical experience: varies by employer. Entry-level roles usually require little or no prior experience; senior roles typically require 5 or more years in the occupation. See the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the specific entry path.
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$53,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+5.5%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
3,700
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Cooks, All Other salary by industry
Food Services and Drinking Places
6,980 workers
$40,500
Restaurants and Other Eating Places
3,830 workers
$37,500
Food and Beverage Retailers
3,150 workers
$40,000
Food and Beverage Retailers (4451 and 4452 only)
3,130 workers
$40,000
Special Food Services
3,050 workers
$44,000
Food Manufacturing
1,660 workers
$39,000
Accommodation
1,460 workers
$46,500
Traveler Accommodation
1,060 workers
$44,000
Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries
920 workers
$39,000
Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries
850 workers
$37,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
Support senior team members with day-to-day operational work
Gather and analyze data using established methods and tools
Prepare reports, presentations, and documentation for internal review
Execute routine tasks accurately and on schedule
Escalate issues and questions to more experienced staff
Contribute to team deliverables under direct supervision
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Non-exempt · Service, trades, or production work
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay under FLSA rules. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
How this role compares
Cooks, All Other pays 0% below the average across 18 roles in the Food Preparation and Serving job family (family average $40,500).
Similar-paying roles in Food Preparation and Serving
Need Cooks, All Other pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
