Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Rochester

In Rochester (NY), the median pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria is $18.59 an hour ($38,670 a year). About 1,620 people work in this job there.

$18.59Median hourly pay
$36,930–$45,640Middle half of workers, yearly
1,620People in this job in Rochester (NY)

That is 3% higher than the U.S. median ($37,450). It is 16% lower than the New York median ($45,880).

Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Rochester (NY)

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$16.90$35,150
25% of workers$17.76$36,930
Half of workers (median)$18.59$38,670
75% of workers$21.94$45,640
90% of workers$23.43$48,720

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in New York metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
Ithaca$46,870190
New York-Newark-Jersey City$46,87015,270
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh$45,740650
Kingston$44,650190
Albany-Schenectady-Troy$43,550920
Buffalo-Cheektowaga$41,8601,110
Utica-Rome$41,660360
Binghamton$40,510270
Syracuse$40,450670
Glens Falls$40,190150
Rochester (this page)$38,6701,620
Watertown-Fort Drum$37,830100
Elmira$36,99090

New York unemployment rate: 4.3% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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 Rochester (NY)

JobMedian yearly pay
Fast Food and Counter Workers$33,430
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$43,040
Cooks, Restaurant$38,380
Food Preparation Workers$35,020
Cooks, Short Order$36,580

Other job titles for this job

Food Service SpecialistCulinary SpecialistSous ChefBoarding House CookCafeteria CookCamp CookDietary CookDinner CookGalley CookInstitutional CookKitchen CookMess Cook

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Source: 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.