What is the best state to be a cooks, restaurant?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Vermont is the best state for a cooks, restaurant: a BLS median of $45,390 is worth $45,211 after the 2025 state income tax ($1,102) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 98.0), an index of 119.7 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. Washington has the highest headline BLS median for a cooks, restaurant at $46,800, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #3 of 51 on real pay (index 115.8). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

Where does a cooks, restaurant salary go least far?

West Virginia ranks last of 51 states for a cooks, restaurant: a $29,590 BLS median is worth only $32,222 after tax and cost of living (index 85.3). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Cooks, Restaurant

Best States to Be a Cooks, Restaurant

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a cooks, restaurant salary goes furthest in Vermont — a $45,390 BLS median worth $45,211 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 119.7).

Which US states are best for a cooks, restaurant after cost of living and tax?

For a cooks, restaurant, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Vermont #1: a $45,390 BLS median becomes $45,211 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 119.7). West Virginia ranks last ($32,222, index 85.3). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Vermont ranks #1 of 51 states for a cooks, restaurant. Index 100 = the average state; 119.7 means pay goes 19.7% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

119.7

Cooks, Restaurant — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	Vermont	$45,390	$1,102	98.0	$45,211	119.7
2	Maine	$45,290	$1,458	97.0	$45,164	119.6
3	Washington	$46,800	—	107.0	$43,733	115.8
4	Massachusetts	$45,600	$2,060	105.8	$41,170	109.0
5	North Dakota	$36,470	—	89.0	$40,996	108.6
6	South Dakota	$36,220	—	88.6	$40,887	108.3
7	District of Columbia	$46,130	$1,668	109.9	$40,457	107.1
8	Nebraska	$37,030	$849	90.1	$40,155	106.3
9	California	$44,880	$807	110.7	$39,806	105.4
10	Wyoming	$36,830	—	92.7	$39,734	105.2
11	Missouri	$36,940	$855	90.8	$39,733	105.2
12	Tennessee	$36,420	—	91.9	$39,643	105.0
13	Hawaii	$45,420	$1,954	110.0	$39,532	104.7
14	Colorado	$41,600	$1,170	103.1	$39,232	103.9
15	Alaska	$40,140	—	102.4	$39,215	103.8
16	Iowa	$35,670	$1,315	87.8	$39,145	103.7
17	Montana	$38,060	$1,107	94.6	$39,043	103.4
18	Oregon	$43,100	$2,967	103.4	$38,828	102.8
19	New York	$43,680	$1,797	107.9	$38,809	102.8
20	Nevada	$38,610	—	100.0	$38,618	102.3
21	New Hampshire	$40,200	—	104.2	$38,593	102.2
22	Ohio	$35,540	$195	92.8	$38,098	100.9
23	Wisconsin	$36,550	$849	94.1	$37,942	100.5
24	Arizona	$38,670	$492	100.7	$37,922	100.4
25	Minnesota	$38,590	$1,265	98.6	$37,847	100.2
26	Kansas	$35,130	$1,163	90.1	$37,713	99.9
27	South Carolina	$35,740	$609	93.7	$37,474	99.2
28	New Mexico	$35,020	$586	92.2	$37,342	98.9
29	Connecticut	$39,480	$852	103.6	$37,283	98.7
30	Idaho	$36,440	$955	95.5	$37,160	98.4
31	Michigan	$36,980	$1,325	96.2	$37,057	98.1
32	Kentucky	$34,640	$1,255	90.2	$37,029	98.1
33	Indiana	$35,170	$1,025	93.3	$36,586	96.9
34	North Carolina	$35,400	$963	94.3	$36,509	96.7
35	Delaware	$37,840	$1,423	99.8	$36,487	96.6
36	Pennsylvania	$36,580	$1,123	97.6	$36,339	96.2
37	Georgia	$35,940	$1,290	96.3	$35,984	95.3
38	Illinois	$37,580	$1,719	100.0	$35,876	95.0
39	Texas	$34,760	—	97.1	$35,814	94.8
40	Florida	$37,020	—	103.4	$35,798	94.8
41	Utah	$36,490	$1,660	98.9	$35,230	93.3
42	Virginia	$36,750	$1,313	101.1	$35,050	92.8
43	Oklahoma	$31,720	$969	87.8	$35,007	92.7
44	Rhode Island	$36,510	$769	102.3	$34,944	92.5
45	New Jersey	$38,460	$629	108.8	$34,770	92.1
46	Alabama	$32,180	$1,344	88.8	$34,716	91.9
47	Maryland	$37,820	$1,464	105.0	$34,639	91.7
48	Arkansas	$30,180	$969	86.9	$33,601	89.0
49	Mississippi	$29,560	$495	87.0	$33,426	88.5
50	Louisiana	$29,050	$497	88.2	$32,371	85.7
51	West Virginia	$29,590	$752	89.5	$32,222	85.3

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Vermont, a $45,390 salary is worth about $42,282 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $3,972 (≈ top marginal 8.75% (upper bound)) · take-home $41,418 · BEA cost of living 98.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $51,238, a $8,957 gain over Vermont.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$51,238	88.6
2	Arkansas	$50,174	86.9
3	Louisiana	$49,915	88.2
4	Mississippi	$49,904	87.0
5	Iowa	$49,754	87.8
6	North Dakota	$49,748	89.0
7	Tennessee	$49,407	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$49,217	87.8
9	Wyoming	$48,969	92.7
10	Alabama	$48,547	88.8
11	Kentucky	$48,331	90.2
12	West Virginia	$48,272	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Cooks, Restaurant — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a cooks, restaurant?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Vermont is the best state for a cooks, restaurant: a BLS median of $45,390 is worth $45,211 after the 2025 state income tax ($1,102) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 98.0), an index of 119.7 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. Washington has the highest headline BLS median for a cooks, restaurant at $46,800, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #3 of 51 on real pay (index 115.8). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a cooks, restaurant salary go least far?: West Virginia ranks last of 51 states for a cooks, restaurant: a $29,590 BLS median is worth only $32,222 after tax and cost of living (index 85.3). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a cooks, restaurant is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.