Line Cook Salary Guide 2026: How Much Do Line Cooks Make?

Line cook salary at a glance

US line cook hourly rate: $16–$28/hr depending on city, restaurant type, and experience. Fine dining and hotel kitchens pay the most. NYC, SF, and Seattle pay the most by market. On-demand W-2 line cook shifts through DishwasherHero+ pay $18–$24/hr across 30+ cities.

Line Cook Hourly Rate by Restaurant Type

• Fast casual / QSR: $15–$18/hr — high volume, lower skill requirements
• Casual dining (Applebee's, Chili's): $16–$19/hr
• Independent restaurants: $17–$23/hr — variable based on chef and cuisine
• Hotel kitchens: $19–$25/hr — structured pay scales, often unionized
• Fine dining: $22–$28/hr — highest rates, most demanding environments
• Casino restaurants (Las Vegas): $20–$28/hr — premium rates, 24/7 shifts
• On-demand staffing (DishwasherHero+): $18–$24/hr — flexible W-2 shifts, weekly pay

Line Cook Pay by City (2026)

• New York City: $20–$30/hr — highest in the US
• San Francisco / Bay Area: $21–$29/hr — AB5-compliant W-2 required
• Seattle: $22–$28/hr — Washington State minimum wage $16.66/hr
• Los Angeles: $19–$26/hr — AB5 W-2 compliance required
• Chicago: $18–$25/hr — strong union presence in hotel kitchens
• Las Vegas: $19–$26/hr — casino premiums, 24/7 availability
• Miami: $17–$23/hr — lower base but tip-sharing at resort hotels
• Houston: $16–$21/hr — competitive market, no state income tax
• Dallas: $16–$21/hr — similar to Houston
• Atlanta: $16–$20/hr
• Toronto (CAD): CAD $18–$25/hr — Ontario ESA compliant T4
• Vancouver (CAD): CAD $19–$26/hr — BC minimum wage C$17.40/hr

Line Cook Annual Salary Breakdown

• Entry-level line cook (1–2 years): $33,000–$40,000/yr
• Experienced line cook (3–5 years): $40,000–$50,000/yr
• Senior line cook / lead (5+ years): $48,000–$58,000/yr
• Fine dining line cook: $46,000–$60,000/yr
• Hotel kitchen line cook: $44,000–$55,000/yr
• Note: BLS Occupational Employment Survey (2025) shows median cook wage of $16.89/hr nationally

How Line Cooks Can Earn More in 2026

• Move to a higher-paying market — NYC, SF, and Seattle pay 20–40% above the national median
• Specialize in a cuisine or technique that commands a premium (pastry, Japanese, butchery)
• Progress to lead line cook or sous chef — adds $3–$8/hr
• Get ServSafe Manager certification — often required for advancement and adds leverage in salary negotiations
• Pick up on-demand shifts through DishwasherHero+ — flexible W-2 shifts at $18–$24/hr with no long-term commitment
• Work hotel and casino kitchens — these typically pay above independent restaurant rates

Looking for line cook shifts? See available positions: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles.