Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in New York, NY
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $46,870 a year — 25% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,906 take-home, or $3,159 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,444
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,906
- Medicare (1.45%)$680
- New York income tax$1,934
- Take-home pay$37,906
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $1,388 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $36,518 ($3,043 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. 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 New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,320 | $17.46 | $29,999 | $2,500 |
| 25th percentile | $40,860 | $19.64 | $33,402 | $2,783 |
| Median (50th) | $46,870 | $22.53 | $37,906 | $3,159 |
| 75th percentile | $53,110 | $25.53 | $42,583 | $3,549 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,160 | $28.92 | $47,867 | $3,989 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,870 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, institution and cafeteria's $37,906 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,675 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 New York, NY than nationally (location quotient 0.57), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #13 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 |
| 13 | New York, NY | $46,870 | $37,906 | $33,675 |
*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 New York, NY?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $46,870 a year, or about $22.53 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $40,860 and $53,110.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $46,870 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $37,906 a year ($3,159 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,934 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 25% above the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,675 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #13 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 75% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New York, NY
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- Waiter and Waitress — $47,610
- Cooks, Restaurant — $43,740
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $39,120
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $36,980
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- Food Preparation Worker — $35,670
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