Line Cook Salary
Written by Sasha Vidakovic – Updated on December 23, 2024 | Reviewed by Milos Eric
How Much Do Line Cooks Make in the United States?
Using our salary data collection methodology, we determined the average Line Cook salary in the U.S. to be $33,829 per year or $16.26 per hour.
What could I earn?
Find out how your salary compares to the average Line Cook salary.Average Line Cook Base Salary:
What can I earn as Line Cook? Your salary is $0.00 on the US national average.How Much Does a Line Cook Make Monthly?
On average, Line Cooks in the U.S. make $2,826.15 a month.
How Much Does a Line Cook Make Weekly?
The average weekly pay for Line Cooks stands at $650. They make around 52.9% less than the median weekly earnings of all wage and salary workers in the U.S.
Are Line Cooks Paid Hourly or Do Some Receive Annual Salaries?
The vast majority of Line Cooks in the U.S. are paid hourly rather than receiving a fixed annual salary. This reflects the nature of their work, which involves shifts, fluctuating hours and overtime opportunities.
- Hourly Pay Structure:
- Average Hourly Wage: $16.26
- Range: $12 – $20/hour (depending on location, experience, and establishment type)
- Overtime: Line Cooks working more than 40 hours a week are typically eligible for overtime pay at 1.5x their regular rate.
- Annual Salary Option (Less Common):
- Some high-end restaurants, hotel kitchens, or resorts may offer salaried positions for senior Line Cooks, typically for those in lead or senior cook roles.
- Annual Salaries: $38,000 – $45,000 (with benefits like health insurance and PTO).
- Salaried Line Cooks often have more stable hours but may work longer shifts without overtime.
Key Insight:
- Independent and small restaurants almost exclusively pay hourly.
- Large chains or hotels may offer salaried roles, particularly for team leads or kitchen supervisors.
- Upside of Hourly Pay: Flexibility, potential for overtime and seasonal boosts during busy periods.
- Downside: Inconsistent hours, especially in slower seasons.
What Certifications or Culinary Courses can Help Line Cooks Earn Higher Salaries?
While a formal culinary degree isn’t required for most Line Cook positions, certifications and courses can boost earning potential by demonstrating advanced skills and a commitment to the profession.
Key Certifications and Their Impact:
- ServSafe Certification (National Restaurant Association):
- Focus: Food safety and sanitation.
- Impact: Required by many states and restaurants for handling food. Increases hireability and eligibility for raises.
- Cost: $150 – $200.
- Certified Fundamentals Cook (CFC) – American Culinary Federation (ACF):
- Focus: Basic culinary skills, knife techniques, and foundational kitchen operations.
- Impact: Can increase salaries by 5-10% by showcasing essential cooking knowledge.
- Cost: $150 – $250 (exam and materials).
- Culinary School Diplomas or Degrees:
- Focus: Comprehensive culinary training (1-4 years).
- Impact: Graduates from culinary schools like CIA (Culinary Institute of America) or Le Cordon Bleu can command higher starting wages ($18-$22/hour).
- Cost: $15,000 – $30,000 per year.
- TIPS Certification (Training for Intervention Procedures):
- Focus: Responsible alcohol service.
- Impact: Allows Line Cooks to handle alcohol in restaurants, opening pathways to bar-related kitchen positions.
- Cost: $40 – $60.
- Advanced Knife Skills or Butchery Courses:
- Focus: Specialized skills in fileting, butchering, and plating.
- Impact: Specializations can lead to higher-paying roles or specialized Line Cook positions in steakhouses, sushi bars, or seafood restaurants.
Why It Matters:
In-demand kitchens (fine dining, resorts) prioritize cooks with formal training.
Employers favor cooks with specialized skills, making them more likely to receive promotions or raises.
Certifications often fast-track Line Cooks toward Sous Chef or Kitchen Manager roles.
Other Factors Influencing the Salary of a Line Cook
Three key factors that influence a Line Cook’s salary are their experience level, the type of establishment they work in and the geographic location of their job.
Let’s see how each of these factors plays a role in determining a Line Cook’s earning potential.
Experience level
Senior-level Line Cooks with 10 years of experience or more can earn $40,000–$44,000. They may sometimes earn even more, depending on the other two factors (establishment and location) that we’ll be discussing after this.
At the same time, an entry-level Line Cook can earn between $24,000 and $27,000.
These are Line Cooks who currently only have zero to one year of experience.
[Calculated using Zippia and Salary.com data]
This chart is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the chart to see detailed data.
Establishment type
The type of establishment where a Line Cook works also significantly impacts their salary or wage.
Upscale, fine dining establishments usually pay more because they have higher profit margins and value advanced culinary skills.
On the other hand, fast-food chains tend to offer lower wages, often close to minimum wage, due to their smaller profit margins and higher staff turnover.
Casual and mid-range restaurants generally offer salaries that fall somewhere in between, reflecting their menu pricing and service levels.
Geographic location
Location can also be a major influencing factor on a Line Cook’s salary. For instance, if you were a Line Cook in Washington state you would be earning $47,368 on average.
Doing the same job in Mississippi would give a comparatively lower salary of around $30,061.
It is important to note that these significant differences in Line Cook salaries across states are mainly due to varying costs of living.
Housing alone would cost you 29.7% more in Washington than it would in Mississippi.
Interact with our map below to get insights into Line Cook salaries across the U.S.
[Calculated using Indeed, Salary.com, ZipRecruiter and Talent.com data]
This map is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the map to see detailed data.
Line Cook Salary Across Four Major US Cities
Out of the four cities — New York City, Miami, Los Angeles and Chicago — NYC offers the highest average salary for Line Cooks ($48,007).
At the same time, Chicago is the lowest-paying out of the four cities, with an average Line Cook salary of $39,089.
Still, living in Chicago is around 36% cheaper than living in NYC.
Explore our table below for more information on Line Cook salaries, employment and projected growth.
Miami
Annual mean wage
$41,643
# of employees
34,230
Projected growth
36,323
New York City
Annual mean wage
$48,007
# of employees
57,010
Projected growth
60,606
Chicago
Annual mean wage
$39,089
# of employees
41,360
Projected growth
43,849
Los Angeles
Annual mean wage
$46,082
# of employees
48,050
Projected growth
50,923
[Calculated using Indeed, Salary.com, Glassdoor and Talent.com data]
Highest- and Lowest-Paying Areas for Line Cooks
As mentioned, Washington ($47,368) is the highest-paying area for U.S.-based Line Cooks, followed by the District of Columbia ($46,655), Massachusetts ($45,094) and Maine ($44,168).
On the lowest-paying end stands Mississippi as the state with the lowest Line Cook salary ($30,061), followed by West Virginia ($32,661), Arkansas ($33,131) and Louisiana ($33,768).
The table below shows Line Cook salaries across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., ranked from highest to lowest.
It’s a helpful tool if you’re considering relocating or exploring Line Cook job opportunities in different areas because it offers a clear comparison of where Line Cooks are paid the most and the least.
| State | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $47,368 |
| District of Columbia | $46,655 |
| Massachusetts | $45,094 |
| Maine | $44,168 |
| New York | $44,011 |
| Vermont | $44,005 |
| California | $43,870 |
| Colorado | $42,381 |
| New Hampshire | $42,378 |
| Hawaii | $42,322 |
| Rhode Island | $42,086 |
| Oregon | $41,736 |
| Connecticut | $41,585 |
| New Jersey | $41,292 |
| Minnesota | $40,590 |
| Arizona | $40,150 |
| Alaska | $39,974 |
| Idaho | $39,830 |
| Wisconsin | $39,799 |
| Montana | $39,549 |
| Illinois | $39,491 |
| Nevada | $39,339 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,279 |
| Delaware | $39,227 |
| South Dakota | $39,106 |
| North Dakota | $38,628 |
| Tennessee | $38,490 |
| Wyoming | $37,944 |
| Maryland | $37,848 |
| Utah | $37,791 |
| Ohio | $37,747 |
| Missouri | $37,652 |
| Texas | $37,613 |
| Nebraska | $37,487 |
| Michigan | $37,181 |
| Indiana | $37,012 |
| Virginia | $36,953 |
| New Mexico | $36,827 |
| Iowa | $36,824 |
| South Carolina | $36,625 |
| North Carolina | $36,357 |
| Florida | $36,227 |
| Kansas | $35,810 |
| Georgia | $35,702 |
| Kentucky | $35,686 |
| Oklahoma | $34,183 |
| Alabama | $34,061 |
| Louisiana | $33,786 |
| Arkansas | $33,131 |
| West Virginia | $32,661 |
| Mississippi | $30,061 |
How To Negotiate Your Line Cook Salary
67% of people who tried to negotiate their salary received around 19% higher compensation than what was initially offered to them.
[Source: Procurement Tactics]
To help you achieve similar results, here are three tips for successful Line Cook salary negotiations:
- Highlight your value: Underline a specific set of skills, such as knife skills, unique plating techniques and menu planning, to demonstrate to your potential employer why you deserve to be paid more.
- Research industry trends: Look for the average Line Cook salary in your area to understand the market rates better and propose a salary that is within the realistic range.
- Prepare a specific number: Come up with a specific number that aligns with your skills and the market rates but be ready to compromise. For instance, if you don’t get offered the desired salary, you can try negotiating a more comprehensive benefits package.
How Much Do Similar Careers to a Line Cook Get Paid?
Estimate Your Take-Home Pay as a Line Cook
Curious about what you’ll actually bring home as a Line Cook after taxes? Our Paycheck Calculator makes it simple.
Just follow these four easy steps to get a clear estimate of your post-tax earnings.
- Step 1: Input your earnings before tax deductions.
- Step 2: Select the pay frequency applicable to your job.
- Step 3: Choose the state where you work.
- Step 4: Click the Calculate Tax button to get your take-home pay estimate.
Paycheck Calculator
Disclaimer: Please note that this paycheck calculator is designed to provide an estimate and should not be considered as professional tax advice. The actual withholding amounts and taxes owed may vary depending on individual circumstances and other factors. For accurate and personalized tax advice, we recommend consulting with a tax professional.
If your gross pay is $74,000.00 per year in the state of New York, your net pay (or take home pay) will be $55,385.89 after tax deductions of 25.15% (or $18,614.11). Deductions include a total of [1] 12.23% (or $9,048.10) for the federal income tax, [2] 5.28% (or $3,905.01) for the state income tax, [3] 6.20% (or $4,588.00) for the social security tax and [4] 1.45% (or $1,073.00) for Medicare.
The Federal Income Tax is collected by the government and is consistent across all U.S. regions. In contrast, the State Income Tax is levied by the state of residence and work, leading to substantial variations. The Social Security Tax is used to fund Social Security, which benefits retirees, persons with disabilities and survivors of deceased workers. Medicare involves a federal payroll tax designated for the Medicare insurance program. As of 2022, Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming do not levy a state income tax.
Line Cook Salary FAQs
On average, a single person needs around $1,165 per month to cover all costs of living, not including rent. As we mentioned, a Line Cook makes around $2,826 per month on average. So, it is possible to make a living working as a Line Cook in the U.S., but it all depends on how high your rent expenses are and what area you live and work in.
Line Cooks typically do not receive tips as they do not interact with the customers directly like Bartenders and Servers. Still, there can be instances where the front-of-the-house staff shares a tip pool with the back-of-the-house personnel.
Yes. According to U.S. labor laws, Line Cooks are entitled to overtime pay for any time worked beyond 40 hours per week.
Sometimes. Line cooks typically earn a stable annual salary between $33,280 and $37,440, with hourly wages ranging from $16 to $18.
Servers earn an average hourly wage of $17.05, leading to an annual income of about $35,457. Waiters and Waitresses earn slightly more, with an average hourly wage of $17.56 and an annual salary of $36,530, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
While Line Cooks have more predictable earnings, Servers and waitstaff can potentially earn more overall due to tips. However, their income can vary based on the volume and type of establishment.
No, Line Cooks are not the highest-paid Cooks. Their salaries tend to be lower because their tasks are more routine and their roles involve less responsibility and decision-making compared to higher-level positions.
Expert Reviewer Milos Eric thoroughly evaluated this salary guide to ensure the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the analyses provided. The salary guide provides insights such as location-specific figures, industry trends and factors that influence compensation.
As the Co-Founder and General Manager of OysterLink, Milos brings his extensive experience as an entrepreneur and business executive. Through the years, he has led and hired more than 500 employees for global companies like DesignRush and Digital Silk.
Not to mention, he is recognized as a Top Voice for Leadership, Recruitment and Recruitment Management on LinkedIn.