How much does a line 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.
Line 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
Line cook pay moves with the local cost of living, the type of restaurant, and how many stations you can run well. Fine dining and high-volume concepts tend to pay more than casual spots, and experience on grill or saute carries extra weight. Some restaurants add tip pooling, so ask how the kitchen shares in it.
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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