$ PaycheckDecoded

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.

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
2Springfield, MA$46,440$37,393$38,926450
3Anchorage, AK$48,290$40,981$38,874530
4Fargo, ND$41,120$35,220$38,758450
5Burlington, VT$47,390$39,104$38,737490
6Spokane, WA$45,330$38,603$38,470750
7San Jose, CA$51,880$42,029$38,0622,640
8Providence, RI$46,350$38,301$37,6341,630
9Hartford, CT$46,650$38,489$37,4601,460
10Duluth, MN$40,300$33,224$37,427530
11Boulder, CO$48,020$39,360$37,413820
12Portland, ME$47,000$37,954$37,261600
13Worcester, MA$46,780$37,649$36,722690
14Waterbury, CT$44,110$36,562$36,644440
15Madison, WI$42,960$35,589$36,5821,030
16Bridgeport, CT$47,380$39,043$36,5351,100
17New Haven, CT$46,000$37,996$36,339790
18Naples, FL$43,890$37,446$36,285440
19Lawton, OK$37,450$31,131$36,224610
20Manchester, NH$44,670$38,072$36,034490
21Boston, MA$48,530$38,967$35,9925,310
22Bakersfield, CA$43,910$36,145$35,828510
23Buffalo, NY$41,860$34,151$35,6321,110
24Albany, NY$43,550$35,418$35,572920
25Jackson, TN$35,110$30,391$35,536510

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

Highest-paying cities

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary by state

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

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 165 cities