Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Worcester, MA
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Worcester, MA metro area earn a median $46,780 a year — 25% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,649 take-home, or $3,137 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Worcester, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,434
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,900
- Medicare (1.45%)$678
- Massachusetts income tax$2,119
- Take-home pay$37,649
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in Worcester, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,040 | $18.29 | $31,063 | $2,589 |
| 25th percentile | $44,210 | $21.25 | $35,712 | $2,976 |
| Median (50th) | $46,780 | $22.49 | $37,649 | $3,137 |
| 75th percentile | $48,860 | $23.49 | $39,216 | $3,268 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,470 | $26.67 | $44,197 | $3,683 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,780 buys in Worcester, MA
Prices in Worcester, MA are 2.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, institution and cafeteria's $37,649 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,722 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 Worcester, MA than nationally (location quotient 0.69), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
Worcester, MA ranks #13 of 165 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 | Springfield, MA | $46,440 | $37,393 | $38,926 |
| 3 | Anchorage, AK | $48,290 | $40,981 | $38,874 |
| 4 | Fargo, ND | $41,120 | $35,220 | $38,758 |
| 5 | Burlington, VT | $47,390 | $39,104 | $38,737 |
| 6 | Spokane, WA | $45,330 | $38,603 | $38,470 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $51,880 | $42,029 | $38,062 |
| 8 | Providence, RI | $46,350 | $38,301 | $37,634 |
| 13 | Worcester, MA | $46,780 | $37,649 | $36,722 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 165 metros →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries elsewhere in Massachusetts
- Springfield, MA — $46,440
- Boston, MA — $48,530
- Amherst Town, MA — $41,470
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Worcester, MA?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Worcester, MA metro area is $46,780 a year, or about $22.49 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,210 and $48,860.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Worcester, MA?
On the median $46,780 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $37,649 a year ($3,137 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,119 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Worcester, MA 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 2.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,722 would in a typical U.S. city. Worcester, MA ranks #13 of 165 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria afford rent in Worcester, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Worcester, MA is $1,558 a month ($1,997 for two bedrooms) — 50% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Worcester, MA
- Chef and Head Cook — $64,620
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,500
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,250
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,840
- Dishwasher — $36,660
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,550
- Bartender — $35,950
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $35,870
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,790
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,610
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $33,620