Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Washington
In Washington, the median pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria is $23.88 an hour ($49,670 a year). About 9,780 people work in this job there.
That is 33% higher than the U.S. median ($37,450). Washington ranks 1st of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Washington
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $19.15 | $39,820 |
| 25% of workers | $22.00 | $45,760 |
| Half of workers (median) | $23.88 | $49,670 |
| 75% of workers | $27.99 | $58,220 |
| 90% of workers | $30.21 | $62,840 |
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Washington metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $51,620 | 240 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $51,530 | 5,380 |
| Bellingham | $49,320 | 250 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $49,280 | 240 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $48,820 | 290 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $46,820 | 310 |
| Yakima | $46,730 | 430 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $46,690 | 140 |
| Walla Walla | $46,170 | 90 |
| Longview-Kelso | $45,640 | 120 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $45,330 | 750 |
Washington unemployment rate: 4.9% (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 Washington
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $37,710 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $46,800 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $59,400 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $40,910 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $39,120 |
| Bakers | $46,140 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $76,010 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,760 |
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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.