Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro

In Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro (OR), the median pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria is $22.02 an hour ($45,800 a year). About 3,920 people work in this job there.

$22.02Median hourly pay
$40,240–$52,120Middle half of workers, yearly
3,920People in this job in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro (OR)

That is 22% higher than the U.S. median ($37,450). It is 3% higher than the Oregon median ($44,520).

Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro (OR)

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$18.18$37,810
25% of workers$19.35$40,240
Half of workers (median)$22.02$45,800
75% of workers$25.06$52,120
90% of workers$28.10$58,440

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Oregon metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro (this page)$45,8003,920
Bend$45,350330
Salem$44,690720
Grants Pass$44,140120
Eugene-Springfield$43,820610
Medford$42,450340
Albany$40,000180
Corvallis$38,950190

Oregon unemployment rate: 5.1% (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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro (OR)

JobMedian yearly pay
Fast Food and Counter Workers$35,620
Cooks, Restaurant$45,200
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$48,900
Food Preparation Workers$38,730
Cooks, Fast Food$38,580
Bakers$43,440
Food Service Managers$63,840
Chefs and Head Cooks$65,690

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.