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    The Indeed Flex Career Hub is provided for general informational purposes only. Content is AI-assisted, compiled from publicly available sources, and may be out of date or contain errors. Nothing on this site constitutes professional career, legal, tax, or financial advice. Always verify pay, tax, and benefit figures with the original source or a qualified professional before relying on them.

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    1. Career Hub
    2. Career Hub
    3. Cities
    4. Denver
    5. Entry Level Cook
    ByLocal Market Research Team
    Reviewed by Indeed Flex Editorial Board
    Updated January 15, 2026
    Hospitality
    Denver, CO

    Entry Level Cook Jobs in Denver

    Temp and flexible entry level cook positions in Denver pay $15.68-$21.28/hr — 12% above the national average, with a cost of living 12% above the U.S. baseline.

    $16-$21

    Per Hour

    $739

    Weekly (40hrs)

    112

    Cost Index

    MST

    Time Zone

    Find Entry Level Cook ShiftsCalculate Earnings
    Quick Facts

    Top Industries in Denver

    Tourism
    Logistics
    Healthcare
    Technology

    Monthly Costs

    1-Bed Rent$1850
    Groceries$360
    Transport$95
    More about Denver

    About Entry Level Cook Jobs in Denver

    Entry Level Cooks in Denver earn $15.68-$21.28/hr, above the national average.

    An Entry Level Cook learns the foundations of professional cooking while assisting line cooks and prep cooks during service. You handle basic food prep, follow recipes, run plates to the pass, and pick up technique on the job - the standard starting point for a US kitchen career.

    Most entry level cook positions in Denver are available as temporary, part-time, or flexible shifts.

    Entry Level Cook Pay: Denver vs Nearby Cities

    CityHourly PayCost of Living1-Bed Rent
    Denver, CO$16–$21/hr112$1,850
    Las Vegas, NV$14–$19/hr98$1,350
    Reno, NV$14–$19/hr101$1,400
    San Francisco, CA$25–$34/hr180$3,200
    San Jose, CA$23–$32/hr166$2,800
    Worker Proprietary Metric

    Worker Affordability Score

    Calculated for Entry Level Cook in Denver

    1.6x
    Challenging
    100
    Hours to pay rent
    63%
    Rent / gross income
    1
    Monthly disposable
    20% less affordable than US national average

    Data based on BLS OEWS wage data and HUD 2024 fair market rents.

    What You’ll Actually Earn in Denver

    Monthly Income (40 hrs/wk)
    Gross monthly$3,201
    Est. taxes (~22%)-$704
    Take-home$2,497
    After Essential Costs
    1-Bed Rent$1,850
    Groceries + transport$455
    Remaining$192

    Based on avg Entry Level Cook rate of $18.48/hr at 40 hrs/wk.

    Key Responsibilities

    • Manage and operate assigned kitchen station
    • Prepare dishes according to specifications
    • Train and supervise commis chefs
    • Maintain cleanliness and organization
    • Ensure food safety standards

    Skills & Requirements

    Key Skills
    Basic knife skills
    Recipe following
    Food safety
    Time management
    Food safety
    Leadership
    Requirements
    • Culinary training or equivalent experience

    Earnings Calculator for Denver

    Calculate Your Entry Level Cook Earningsin Denver
    $18/hr
    $15.68/hr$21.28/hr
    25 hr
    5 hr (Part-time)50 hr (Full-time+)
    Weekly
    $600
    Monthly
    $2,598
    Yearly
    $31,200

    Includes ~$150/week in estimated tips

    Open Full Pay Calculator

    Career Path from Entry Level Cook

    Commis Chef

    0-2 years

    Chef de Partie

    2-4 years

    Sous Chef

    4-7 years

    Head Chef

    7+ years

    FAQs: Entry Level Cook Jobs in Denver

    Explore More Opportunities

    More Jobs in Denver

    • Barback in Denver
    • Barista in Denver
    • Bartender in Denver
    • Server in Denver
    • Chef de Partie in Denver
    • Commis Chef in Denver

    Entry Level Cook in Other Cities

    • Entry Level Cook in Philadelphia, PA
    • Entry Level Cook in Charlotte, NC
    • Entry Level Cook in Las Vegas, NV
    • Entry Level Cook in Dallas, TX
    • Entry Level Cook in Columbus, OH
    • Entry Level Cook in Phoenix, AZ

    Related Resources

    • Hospitality Industry Guide
    • Complete Entry Level Cook Career Guide
    • Getting Started Guides
    • Financial Tips for Flex Workers

    Ready to Find Your Next Shift?

    Download the Indeed Flex app and start earning today. Flexible work, on your schedule.

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    2+ years kitchen experience
  • Food handler certification
  • Strong knowledge of cooking techniques
  • Start Earning Today

    Join thousands of entry level cooks in Denver earning on their own schedule

    Get Started Free
    Related Roles in Denver
    Barback$12-$18/hrBarista$13-$19/hrBartender$15-$25/hrServer$12-$20/hrChef de Partie$17-$26/hrView all roles in Denver →
    Entry Level Cook in Nearby Cities
    Las Vegas, NVReno, NVSan Francisco, CASan Jose, CASan Diego, CABrowse all cities →
    Helpful Tools
    Pay CalculatorCost of Living ComparisonShift PlannerEntry Level Cook Career Guide

    Data Sources & Methodology

    The information on this page is compiled from the following sources:

    1. [1]
      BLS QCEW — Employment and wage data at state and county level by industry.Visit
    2. [2]
      BLS CES — Monthly survey of ~670,000 worksites providing industry-level employment and earnings data.Visit
    3. [3]
      Census ACS — Demographic, economic, and housing data for communities.Visit
    4. [4]
      Indeed Hiring Lab — Monthly posted-wage data by job title from Indeed job listings.Visit
    5. [5]
      MWPVL — Comprehensive database of distribution center and warehouse locations.Visit
    6. [6]
      DOL/State Labor Depts — Minimum wage rates, tip credits, licensing requirements, and regulations by state.Visit

    Data Freshness

    CategoryCost of Living
    Last Updated2026-01-15
    Next Update2027-01-15

    We strive to keep all data accurate and up-to-date. Pay rates may vary based on location, experience, and employer.

    About this data

    Figures on this page are compiled from the public sources cited above and may be out of date. They are provided for general informational purposes only and do not constitute professional career, legal, tax, or financial advice. For the most current pay rates, verify with the original source, a qualified professional, or check the Indeed Flex app directly for real-time shift availability and compensation.

    Explore Jobs in Denver

    Find opportunities and compare costs

    Top Jobs in This City
    • Server Jobs in Denver$12-$20/hr
    • Chef de Partie Jobs in Denver$17-$26/hr
    • Housekeeper Jobs in Denver$14-$19/hr
    • Dishwasher Jobs in Denver$12-$17/hr
    • Host / Hostess Jobs in Denver$12-$18/hr
    • Food Runner Jobs in Denver$12-$17/hr
    Compare Living Costs
    • Cost of Living CalculatorSee expenses in Denver
    Nearby Cities
    • Philadelphia, PA$14-$22/hr avg
    • Charlotte, NC$14-$21/hr avg
    • Las Vegas, NV$14-$24/hr avg
    • Dallas, TX$14-$23/hr avg

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