Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Portland, OR
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $45,800 a year — 22% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,802 take-home, or $2,984 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,316
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,840
- Medicare (1.45%)$664
- Oregon income tax$3,178
- Take-home pay$35,802
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.75% state
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro spans Oregon, Washington. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,810 | $18.18 | $30,082 | $2,507 |
| 25th percentile | $40,240 | $19.35 | $31,821 | $2,652 |
| Median (50th) | $45,800 | $22.02 | $35,802 | $2,984 |
| 75th percentile | $52,120 | $25.06 | $40,328 | $3,361 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,440 | $28.10 | $44,853 | $3,738 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,800 buys in Portland, OR
Prices in Portland, OR are 5.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, institution and cafeteria's $35,802 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,961 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria jobs are about as common in Portland, OR as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, OR ranks #10 of 37 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $51,530 | $43,584 | $39,218 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $51,880 | $42,029 | $38,062 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $48,530 | $38,967 | $35,992 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,070 | $37,119 | $35,090 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $44,830 | $36,621 | $34,936 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $49,140 | $40,027 | $34,622 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $47,100 | $38,537 | $34,443 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $44,470 | $36,565 | $34,352 |
| 10 | Portland, OR | $45,800 | $35,802 | $33,961 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
About the job: cooks, institution and cafeteria
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Portland, OR?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $45,800 a year, or about $22.02 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $40,240 and $52,120.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $45,800 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $35,802 a year ($2,984 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,178 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 22% above the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,961 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #10 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria afford rent in Portland, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, OR is $1,677 a month ($1,922 for two bedrooms) — 56% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, OR
- Waiter and Waitress — $54,780
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $48,900
- Bartender — $45,590
- Cooks, Restaurant — $45,200
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $43,410
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,730
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,580
- Dishwasher — $37,250
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $37,230
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,620