Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Boston, MA
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $48,530 a year — 30% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,967 take-home, or $3,247 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,644
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,009
- Medicare (1.45%)$704
- Massachusetts income tax$2,207
- Take-home pay$38,967
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. 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 Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,890 | $19.18 | $32,457 | $2,705 |
| 25th percentile | $45,970 | $22.10 | $37,038 | $3,087 |
| Median (50th) | $48,530 | $23.33 | $38,967 | $3,247 |
| 75th percentile | $54,910 | $26.40 | $43,775 | $3,648 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,090 | $28.41 | $46,924 | $3,910 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $48,530 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, institution and cafeteria's $38,967 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,992 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 less concentrated in Boston, MA than nationally (location quotient 0.69), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #3 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 |
*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 Boston, MA?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $48,530 a year, or about $23.33 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,970 and $54,910.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $48,530 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $38,967 a year ($3,247 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,207 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 30% above the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,992 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #3 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 70% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Chef and Head Cook — $72,470
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $47,090
- Cooks, Restaurant — $45,830
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,660
- Cooks, Short Order — $39,600
- Waiter and Waitress — $39,270
- Bartender — $37,760
- Dishwasher — $37,750
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $37,330
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,290
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $35,140
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,780