SalaryByCity

Cooks, Restaurant vs Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Cooks, Restaurant

$36,830

Median annual salary

1,452,130 employed nationally

Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

$35,930

Median annual salary

2,199,900 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Cooks, Restaurant professionals earn $900 more per year than Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners professionals — that's 2.5% higher. At the 90th percentile, Cooks, Restaurant earns $47,340 compared to $49,040 for Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners.

Salary Range Comparison

Cooks, Restaurant$28,010 – $47,340
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$27,570 – $49,040
$27,570$49,040

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileCooks, RestaurantJanitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersDifference
10th Percentile$28,010$27,570+$440
25th Percentile$31,310$30,830+$480
Median (50th)$36,830$35,930+$900
75th Percentile$43,610$41,650+$1,960
90th Percentile$47,340$49,040$-1,700
Mean (Average)$37,730$37,460+$270

Employment Numbers

Cooks, Restaurant

1,452,130

employed nationwide

Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

2,199,900

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Cooks, Restaurant

CityMedian
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$46,970
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$46,960
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$46,180
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$45,230
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$45,040

Best Cities for Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

CityMedian
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$46,230
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$44,820
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$43,530
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$42,920
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$40,350

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Cooks, Restaurant or Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners?
Cooks, Restaurant professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $900 (2.5% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Cooks, Restaurant?
Cooks, Restaurant salaries range from $28,010 (10th percentile) to $47,340 (90th percentile), with a median of $36,830.
What is the salary range for Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners?
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners salaries range from $27,570 (10th percentile) to $49,040 (90th percentile), with a median of $35,930.
How many Cooks, Restaurant and Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners jobs are there?
There are approximately 1,452,130 Cooks, Restaurant positions and 2,199,900 Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners to Cooks, Restaurant?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Cooks, Restaurant has a median salary of $36,830 while Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners earns $35,930. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS