Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Oklahoma City, OK
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Oklahoma City, OK metro area earn a median $30,540 a year — 18% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,890 take-home, or $2,158 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Oklahoma City, OK. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,485
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,893
- Medicare (1.45%)$443
- Oklahoma income tax$829
- Take-home pay$25,890
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in Oklahoma City, OK
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,620 | $10.39 | $18,987 | $1,582 |
| 25th percentile | $26,830 | $12.90 | $23,043 | $1,920 |
| Median (50th) | $30,540 | $14.68 | $25,890 | $2,158 |
| 75th percentile | $36,140 | $17.38 | $30,138 | $2,511 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,440 | $18.96 | $32,641 | $2,720 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oklahoma resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,540 buys in Oklahoma City, OK
Prices in Oklahoma City, OK are 9.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 26% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, institution and cafeteria's $25,890 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,637 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Oklahoma City, OK has 1.6× the national concentration of cooks, institution and cafeteria jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
Oklahoma City, OK ranks #35 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 |
| 35 | Oklahoma City, OK | $30,540 | $25,890 | $28,637 |
*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.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries elsewhere in Oklahoma
- Tulsa, OK — $30,750
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Oklahoma City, OK?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Oklahoma City, OK metro area is $30,540 a year, or about $14.68 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $26,830 and $36,140.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Oklahoma City, OK?
On the median $30,540 salary, a single filer living in Oklahoma takes home about $25,890 a year ($2,158 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $829 in Oklahoma taxes in 2026.
Is Oklahoma City, OK a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 18% below the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 9.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,637 would in a typical U.S. city. Oklahoma City, OK ranks #35 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria afford rent in Oklahoma City, OK?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Oklahoma City, OK is $1,002 a month ($1,227 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Oklahoma City, OK
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,130
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $35,580
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,160
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,990
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $26,070
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $24,960
- Bartender — $24,790
- Waiter and Waitress — $18,200