How much does a breakfast cook make?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics groups this role under Cooks, Restaurant (SOC 35-2014). In its May 2025 wage survey, the national median was $17.98 an hour, or about $37,390 a year for full-time work, across roughly 1,409,890 people employed nationally. The middle of the market sits between $13.80 at the 10th percentile and $23.03 at the 90th.
Breakfast Cook pay in Boston
In the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area, the median for restaurant cooks was $22.03 an hour ($45,830a year), reflecting Massachusetts' higher minimum wage and cost of living.
What moves the number
Breakfast cook pay is shaped by the local market, the restaurant type, and the volume of the brunch rush, with hotels and busy brunch destinations often paying more. Tips or tip pooling can add to earnings in some places. Cooks who can run the whole line or open the kitchen alone are valued.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. BLS figures for tipped roles may not capture all tip income. The BLS category is the closest official match for this role, not an exact one.
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