Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Riverside, CA
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $44,470 a year — 19% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,565 take-home, or $3,047 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,156
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,757
- Medicare (1.45%)$645
- California income tax$768
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$578
- Take-home pay$36,565
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,540 | $17.57 | $30,614 | $2,551 |
| 25th percentile | $38,340 | $18.43 | $31,965 | $2,664 |
| Median (50th) | $44,470 | $21.38 | $36,565 | $3,047 |
| 75th percentile | $50,510 | $24.28 | $41,028 | $3,419 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,060 | $27.43 | $45,813 | $3,818 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $44,470 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, institution and cafeteria's $36,565 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,352 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 Riverside, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.52), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #8 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.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $51,880
- San Francisco, CA — $49,140
- San Diego, CA — $47,100
- Los Angeles, CA — $45,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Riverside, CA?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $44,470 a year, or about $21.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,340 and $50,510.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $44,470 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $36,565 a year ($3,047 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,346 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 19% above the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,352 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #8 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 58% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $64,480
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,990
- Cooks, Fast Food — $42,480
- Cooks, Restaurant — $42,450
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,280
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,420
- Dishwasher — $36,710
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $35,260
- Bartender — $34,840
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $34,830
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,800
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,590