Cook salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A cook earns a median of $47,940 a year ($23.05 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $53,680. About 1,100 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $47,940
- Gross pay
- $1,843.85
- Federal income tax
- −$137.42
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$114.32
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$26.74
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,565.38
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $47,940
- Federal
- $3,573
- FICA
- $3,667
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $40,700
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Similar jobs
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker: $44,080
- Cook: $37,690
- Cook: $37,450
- Cook: $37,390
- Cook: $35,880
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker: $35,840
- Food Server: $35,360
- Food Preparation Worker: $35,320
BLS occupation: Cooks, Private Household. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 35-2013). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $23.05; the average is $25.81.
What is the salary range for a cook?
The bottom 10% earn under $36,090 and the top 10% earn over $91,130 a year.
How much is $47,940 after taxes?
About $40,700 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $39,161 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.