Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Seattle, WA
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $51,530 a year — 38% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $43,584 take-home, or $3,632 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,004
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,195
- Medicare (1.45%)$747
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$43,584
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,250 | $21.75 | $38,538 | $3,212 |
| 25th percentile | $47,590 | $22.88 | $40,419 | $3,368 |
| Median (50th) | $51,530 | $24.77 | $43,584 | $3,632 |
| 75th percentile | $60,420 | $29.05 | $50,727 | $4,227 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,510 | $30.53 | $53,210 | $4,434 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,530 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, institution and cafeteria's $43,584 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,218 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 about as common in Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #1 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 Seattle, WA?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $51,530 a year, or about $24.77 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,590 and $60,420.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $51,530 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $43,584 a year ($3,632 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 38% above the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,218 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #1 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 56% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Chef and Head Cook — $80,330
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $61,610
- Bartender — $58,180
- Waiter and Waitress — $57,280
- Cooks, Restaurant — $47,730
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $45,120
- Cooks, Fast Food — $44,030
- Food Preparation Worker — $43,830
- Dishwasher — $42,750
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $40,640
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $39,150
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $38,430