salary$43,740 a year$21 an hour · median pay in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area
Lower pay (bottom 10%)$33,040per year
Top pay (top 10%)$54,240per year
Jobs in the area69,250people work this job
Can a restaurant cook afford Jersey City?
Expensive. Rent of $2,946 a month takes 80.8% of the median restaurant cook salary. That is over the 30% rule, so many people in this job share housing or need a second income.
Restaurant Cook pay in similar cities
Other jobs in Jersey City
Registered NurseNurse PractitionerLicensed Practical NurseNursing AssistantMedical AssistantPharmacistPhysician AssistantDental HygienistElementary School TeacherSoftware DeveloperComputer Systems AnalystAccountantMarket Research AnalystOperations Manager
Frequently asked questions
How much does a restaurant cook make in Jersey City, NJ?
The median pay for a restaurant cook in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area is $43,740 a year ($21 an hour). Most earn between $33,040 and $54,240.
Can a restaurant cook afford to live in Jersey City?
Typical rent of $2,946 a month takes 80.8% of the median restaurant cook salary, which we rate Expensive.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area.