Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Restaurant Cook's pay go, state by state?
A Restaurant Cook's pay leaves the most room in Vermont — about $2,860/mo take-home against $1,207/mo typical rent — and the least in District of Columbia.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | $2,860/mo | $1,207/mo | 42% |
| Maine | $2,516/mo | $1,104/mo | 44% |
| North Dakota | $2,297/mo | $911/mo | 40% |
| Wisconsin | $2,332/mo | $1,033/mo | 44% |
| South Dakota | $2,206/mo | $910/mo | 41% |
| Nebraska | $2,290/mo | $1,017/mo | 44% |
| Montana | $2,267/mo | $1,031/mo | 45% |
| Michigan | $2,291/mo | $1,072/mo | 47% |
| Washington | $2,859/mo | $1,641/mo | 57% |
| Minnesota | $2,436/mo | $1,230/mo | 50% |
| Missouri | $2,186/mo | $997/mo | 46% |
| Rhode Island | $2,460/mo | $1,289/mo | 52% |
| Iowa | $2,086/mo | $932/mo | 45% |
| Tennessee | $2,227/mo | $1,111/mo | 50% |
| Massachusetts | $2,831/mo | $1,716/mo | 61% |
| Illinois | $2,360/mo | $1,246/mo | 53% |
| Kansas | $2,100/mo | $1,025/mo | 49% |
| North Carolina | $2,211/mo | $1,147/mo | 52% |
| Idaho | $2,220/mo | $1,163/mo | 52% |
| Alaska | $2,415/mo | $1,361/mo | 56% |
| New Hampshire | $2,465/mo | $1,424/mo | 58% |
| Ohio | $2,014/mo | $986/mo | 49% |
| Utah | $2,413/mo | $1,396/mo | 58% |
| Arizona | $2,435/mo | $1,419/mo | 58% |
| Wyoming | $1,974/mo | $979/mo | 50% |
| Kentucky | $1,911/mo | $918/mo | 48% |
| West Virginia | $1,827/mo | $848/mo | 46% |
| Arkansas | $1,877/mo | $903/mo | 48% |
| Oklahoma | $1,944/mo | $970/mo | 50% |
| Indiana | $1,988/mo | $1,022/mo | 51% |
| Oregon | $2,385/mo | $1,431/mo | 60% |
| Mississippi | $1,882/mo | $933/mo | 50% |
| South Carolina | $2,072/mo | $1,131/mo | 55% |
| New Mexico | $1,960/mo | $1,034/mo | 53% |
| New York | $2,542/mo | $1,621/mo | 64% |
| Pennsylvania | $2,094/mo | $1,176/mo | 56% |
| Alabama | $1,881/mo | $967/mo | 51% |
| Connecticut | $2,394/mo | $1,483/mo | 62% |
| Nevada | $2,372/mo | $1,478/mo | 62% |
| Delaware | $2,181/mo | $1,321/mo | 61% |
| Louisiana | $1,866/mo | $1,028/mo | 55% |
| Colorado | $2,478/mo | $1,659/mo | 67% |
| Hawaii | $2,698/mo | $1,927/mo | 71% |
| New Jersey | $2,421/mo | $1,656/mo | 68% |
| Florida | $2,283/mo | $1,542/mo | 68% |
| California | $2,691/mo | $1,969/mo | 73% |
| Virginia | $2,268/mo | $1,547/mo | 68% |
| Texas | $1,989/mo | $1,328/mo | 67% |
| Georgia | $1,976/mo | $1,320/mo | 67% |
| Maryland | $2,328/mo | $1,683/mo | 72% |
| District of Columbia | $2,478/mo | $1,900/mo | 77% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.