Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in the United States
In the U.S., the median pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria is $18.01 an hour ($37,450 a year). About 441,050 people work in this job there.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in the U.S.
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $13.69 | $28,480 |
| 25% of workers | $15.60 | $32,440 |
| Half of workers (median) | $18.01 | $37,450 |
| 75% of workers | $21.54 | $44,800 |
| 90% of workers | $23.88 | $49,670 |
Best-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 | 9,780 |
| Alaska | $48,580 | 1,430 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 | 7,430 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 | 1,570 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 | 1,190 |
| California | $46,390 | 31,660 |
| Vermont | $46,370 | 1,330 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 | 4,500 |
| New York | $45,880 | 17,670 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 | 1,500 |
Pay by state
- Alabama · $27,120
- Alaska · $48,580
- Arizona · $39,660
- Arkansas · $30,240
- California · $46,390
- Colorado · $42,500
- Connecticut · $46,120
- Delaware · $44,080
- District of Columbia · $45,450
- Florida · $36,250
- Georgia · $35,090
- Hawaii · $47,770
- Idaho · $35,600
- Illinois · $37,440
- Indiana · $35,980
- Iowa · $35,810
- Kansas · $31,950
- Kentucky · $31,550
- Louisiana · $25,490
- Maine · $43,490
- Maryland · $41,380
- Massachusetts · $47,790
- Michigan · $36,870
- Minnesota · $43,460
- Mississippi · $27,390
- Missouri · $34,900
- Montana · $37,150
- Nebraska · $36,390
- Nevada · $39,430
- New Hampshire · $45,370
- New Jersey · $44,520
- New Mexico · $36,470
- New York · $45,880
- North Carolina · $36,140
- North Dakota · $39,490
- Ohio · $36,720
- Oklahoma · $29,270
- Oregon · $44,520
- Pennsylvania · $36,540
- Rhode Island · $46,570
- South Carolina · $34,960
- South Dakota · $36,730
- Tennessee · $35,570
- Texas · $35,360
- Utah · $38,200
- Vermont · $46,370
- Virginia · $37,890
- Washington · $49,670
- West Virginia · $29,740
- Wisconsin · $38,650
- Wyoming · $36,940
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 3 months (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +2.8% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 62,900 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,200 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,390 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,080 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $35,320 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,890 |
| Food Service Managers | $69,390 |
| Bakers | $37,160 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,470 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.