Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Tulsa, OK
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Tulsa, OK metro area earn a median $30,750 a year — 18% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,049 take-home, or $2,171 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Tulsa, OK. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,510
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,907
- Medicare (1.45%)$446
- Oklahoma income tax$838
- Take-home pay$26,049
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in Tulsa, OK
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,100 | $11.59 | $20,917 | $1,743 |
| 25th percentile | $27,770 | $13.35 | $23,774 | $1,981 |
| Median (50th) | $30,750 | $14.78 | $26,049 | $2,171 |
| 75th percentile | $36,070 | $17.34 | $30,085 | $2,507 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,210 | $18.37 | $31,708 | $2,642 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oklahoma resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,750 buys in Tulsa, OK
Prices in Tulsa, OK are 10.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 32% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, institution and cafeteria's $26,049 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,199 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Tulsa, OK has 1.9× 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
Tulsa, OK ranks #34 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 |
| 34 | Tulsa, OK | $30,750 | $26,049 | $29,199 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries elsewhere in Oklahoma
- Oklahoma City, OK — $30,540
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Tulsa, OK?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Tulsa, OK metro area is $30,750 a year, or about $14.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,770 and $36,070.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Tulsa, OK?
On the median $30,750 salary, a single filer living in Oklahoma takes home about $26,049 a year ($2,171 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $838 in Oklahoma taxes in 2026.
Is Tulsa, 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 10.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,199 would in a typical U.S. city. Tulsa, OK ranks #34 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria afford rent in Tulsa, OK?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tulsa, OK is $976 a month ($1,204 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Tulsa, OK
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,900
- Cooks, Restaurant — $33,410
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,100
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,460
- Waiter and Waitress — $18,350