Cook salary in New Jersey
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A cook in New Jersey earns a median of $38,460 a year ($18.49/hour equivalent), 2.9% above the national median of $37,390. New Jersey ranks #17 of 51 states. About 28,800 people do this job in New Jersey.
Take-home pay in New Jersey
At the New Jersey median, a single filer keeps about $32,129 a year after federal, FICA and New Jersey taxes — $1,236 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the New Jersey paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,479.23
- Federal income tax
- −$93.66
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$91.71
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$21.45
- New Jersey income tax
- −$24.18
- NJ Unemployment Insurance
- −$5.66
- NJ Workforce Development / Supplemental Workforce
- −$0.63
- NJ Temporary Disability Insurance
- −$2.81
- NJ Family Leave Insurance
- −$3.40
- Take-home pay
- $1,235.73
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $38,460
- Federal
- $2,435
- FICA
- $2,942
- State + local
- $954
- Net
- $32,129
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 3.5%
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.
How New Jersey compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Washington | $46,800 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| #3 | Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| #4 | Hawaii | $45,420 |
| #5 | Vermont | $45,390 |
| #17 | New Jersey | $38,460 |
| #49 | West Virginia | $29,590 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $29,560 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $29,050 |
See the national cook salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Cooks, Restaurant (SOC 35-2014), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make in New Jersey?
The median salary is $38,460 a year and the average is $40,770 (BLS May 2025).
Is New Jersey a good state for cooks?
New Jersey ranks #17 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 3% above the national median of $37,390.
What is $38,460 after taxes in New Jersey?
About $32,129 a year ($1,236 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.