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Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria earn a median $37,450 a year nationally. Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations

U.S. median
$37,450
$18.00 per hour
Range
$28,480 – $49,670
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
441,050
across the U.S.
▲2.7%
Pay trend: The median for cooks, institution and cafeteria in the U.S. rose from $36,450 (May 2024) to $37,450 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).

What cooks, institution and cafeteria do

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)
Openings per year
62,900

Employment of cooks, institution and cafeteria is projected to grow 2.8% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 62,900 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$32,271
per year · effective tax rate 13.8%
$2,689Monthly
$1,345Twice a month
$1,241Every 2 weeks
$15.51Hourly
  • Federal income tax$2,314
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,322
  • Medicare (1.45%)$543
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$32,271

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$28,480$13.69$25,063
25th percentile$32,440$15.60$28,246
Median (50th)$37,450$18.00$32,271
75th percentile$44,800$21.54$38,177
90th percentile (top earners)$49,670$23.88$42,090

Best cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Seattle, WA$51,530$43,584$39,2185,380
2San Jose, CA$51,880$42,029$38,0622,640
3Boston, MA$48,530$38,967$35,9925,310
4Denver, CO$45,070$37,119$35,0904,410
5Minneapolis, MN$44,830$36,621$34,9364,490
6San Francisco, CA$49,140$40,027$34,6224,280
7San Diego, CA$47,100$38,537$34,4433,070
8Riverside, CA$44,470$36,565$34,3522,540
9Columbus, OH$38,100$32,528$34,0724,020
10Portland, OR$45,800$35,802$33,9613,920
11Nashville, TN$37,910$32,641$33,8812,880
12Washington, DC$44,880$36,714$33,7195,670
13New York, NY$46,870$37,906$33,67515,270
14Cleveland, OH$36,930$31,620$33,6664,080
15Milwaukee, WI$38,980$32,566$33,5952,710
16Cincinnati, OH$37,180$31,814$33,3594,310
17Louisville, KY$37,370$31,016$33,3242,700
18Kansas City, MO$36,080$30,412$32,8624,470
19Los Angeles, CA$45,400$37,263$32,8129,860
20Phoenix, AZ$40,120$33,622$32,5434,700
21Virginia Beach, VA$38,440$31,670$32,3362,510
22Charlotte, NC$37,690$31,469$32,3263,090
23St. Louis, MO$36,200$30,503$32,0785,410
24Pittsburgh, PA$36,100$30,078$31,7714,890
25Indianapolis, IN$36,350$30,344$31,7093,410

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
Washington $49,670+2.9%$42,090 $39,820 – $62,8409,780
Alaska $48,580+3.6%$41,214 $37,990 – $58,7101,430
Massachusetts $47,790+3.3%$38,410 $39,250 – $58,0907,430
Hawaii $47,770+1.1%$38,440 $38,250 – $65,0201,570
Rhode Island $46,570+2.5%$38,469 $37,890 – $58,3801,190
California $46,390+1.6%$38,006 $37,570 – $59,63031,660
Vermont $46,370+13.0%$38,319 $38,120 – $56,5601,330
Connecticut $46,120+0.5%$38,087 $38,380 – $56,5704,500
New York $45,880+1.6%$37,164 $36,280 – $59,62017,670
District of Columbia $45,450−0.3%$37,138 $38,740 – $55,6801,500
New Hampshire $45,370+0.2%$38,635 $35,790 – $56,4701,720
New Jersey $44,520+1.1%$37,040 $35,500 – $53,0607,490
Oregon $44,520+6.3%$34,886 $36,690 – $57,7907,150
Delaware $44,080+1.4%$35,829 $35,870 – $47,5602,680
Maine $43,490+9.2%$35,370 $36,060 – $50,7001,790
Minnesota $43,460+3.0%$35,594 $35,520 – $52,1407,890
Colorado $42,500+3.9%$35,167 $36,290 – $50,9909,440
Maryland $41,380+6.4%$33,827 $35,520 – $49,7503,370
Arizona $39,660+0.5%$33,264 $34,490 – $48,3707,170
North Dakota $39,490+1.1%$33,910 $31,300 – $48,6701,820
Nevada $39,430+2.3%$33,862 $32,020 – $53,5201,650
Wisconsin $38,650+2.1%$32,316 $32,110 – $47,3809,890
Utah $38,200+1.2%$32,121 $28,870 – $48,6005,610
Virginia $37,890+4.5%$31,260 $30,000 – $47,94011,170
Illinois $37,440+2.8%$30,555 $31,200 – $48,13022,840
Montana $37,150+1.3%$31,041 $30,500 – $50,6002,290
Wyoming $36,940+3.6%$31,861 $29,130 – $47,8301,570
Michigan $36,870+2.8%$30,489 $29,800 – $45,54013,500
South Dakota $36,730+3.9%$31,693 $30,140 – $45,6502,120
Ohio $36,720+1.3%$31,457 $29,530 – $46,01023,440
Pennsylvania $36,540−0.8%$30,418 $28,390 – $46,38024,490
New Mexico $36,470+6.5%$30,883 $28,920 – $45,3303,160
Nebraska $36,390+2.1%$30,643 $29,890 – $45,3804,410
Florida $36,250+1.7%$31,307 $31,650 – $46,52025,100
North Carolina $36,140+4.5%$30,285 $28,050 – $45,13011,170
Indiana $35,980+2.6%$30,058 $29,280 – $44,76011,130
Iowa $35,810+3.6%$30,244 $28,030 – $44,1508,860
Idaho $35,600+5.1%$30,006 $28,330 – $45,5503,650
Tennessee $35,570+11.5%$30,760 $27,830 – $45,43010,680
Texas $35,360+7.9%$30,592 $24,770 – $44,84024,740
Georgia $35,090+0.4%$29,176 $28,220 – $44,5408,220
South Carolina $34,960+10.2%$29,330 $21,890 – $42,6807,850
Missouri $34,900+12.9%$29,519 $28,600 – $43,70013,130
Kansas $31,950+3.3%$26,854 $25,440 – $42,0007,570
Kentucky $31,550+2.5%$26,544 $25,580 – $45,72011,540
Arkansas $30,240+1.8%$25,511 $25,810 – $39,7206,530
West Virginia $29,740+3.3%$25,319 $23,820 – $38,4704,420
Oklahoma $29,270+2.0%$24,927 $21,620 – $38,67010,790
Mississippi $27,390+6.0%$23,802 $20,760 – $36,6206,420
Alabama $27,120+1.3%$22,852 $20,040 – $37,9608,780
Louisiana $25,490−3.5%$22,223 $19,250 – $36,2005,740

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Cooks, Restaurant$37,390No formal educational credential+12.1%
Cooks, All Other$37,690No formal educational credential+5.2%
Cooks, Short Order$35,880No formal educational credential-5.2%
Cooks, Fast Food$30,890No formal educational credential+0.6%
Cooks, Private Household$47,940Postsecondary nondegree award+5.1%
Food Preparation Worker$35,320No formal educational credential-3.0%
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$35,840No formal educational credential+5.5%
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$35,360No formal educational credential+4.5%
Waiter and Waitress$35,230No formal educational credential+2.0%
Dishwasher$34,810No formal educational credential-1.0%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make?

The national median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria is $37,450 a year ($18.00 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $28,480 and the top 10% earn over $49,670. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays cooks, institution and cafeteria the most?

Washington has the highest median pay at $49,670. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many cooks, institution and cafeteria are there in the U.S.?

About 441,050 people work as cooks, institution and cafeteria nationwide.

All 37 cities