Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria earn a median of $37,450 a year ($18.01/hr) in the U.S. – from $25,490 in Louisiana to $49,670 in Washington. Enter your pay below to see how you compare.
Median pay, United States$18.01/hr · $37,450 a year
Pay range
90% earn more$28,480$13.69/hr
75% earn more$32,440$15.60/hr
half earn more, half less$37,450$18.01/hr
25% earn more$44,800$21.54/hr
top 10% earn more$49,670$23.88/hr
pulled up by top earners$38,810$18.66/hr
How does my pay compare?
Enter your pay to see where you stand among cooks, institution and cafeteria. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Pay by state
States ranked by median annual wage for cooks, institution and cafeteria. Tap a state for its minimum wage.
9,780 jobs · $23.88/hr$49,670
1,430 jobs · $23.36/hr$48,580
7,430 jobs · $22.98/hr$47,790
1,570 jobs · $22.97/hr$47,770
1,190 jobs · $22.39/hr$46,570
31,660 jobs · $22.31/hr$46,390
1,330 jobs · $22.29/hr$46,370
4,500 jobs · $22.17/hr$46,120
17,670 jobs · $22.06/hr$45,880
1,500 jobs · $21.85/hr$45,450
1,720 jobs · $21.81/hr$45,370
7,490 jobs · $21.40/hr$44,520
7,150 jobs · $21.40/hr$44,520
2,680 jobs · $21.19/hr$44,080
1,790 jobs · $20.91/hr$43,490
7,890 jobs · $20.90/hr$43,460
9,440 jobs · $20.43/hr$42,500
3,370 jobs · $19.89/hr$41,380
7,170 jobs · $19.07/hr$39,660
1,820 jobs · $18.99/hr$39,490
1,650 jobs · $18.96/hr$39,430
9,890 jobs · $18.58/hr$38,650
5,610 jobs · $18.36/hr$38,200
11,170 jobs · $18.22/hr$37,890
22,840 jobs · $18.00/hr$37,440
2,290 jobs · $17.86/hr$37,150
1,570 jobs · $17.76/hr$36,940
13,500 jobs · $17.72/hr$36,870
2,120 jobs · $17.66/hr$36,730
23,440 jobs · $17.65/hr$36,720
24,490 jobs · $17.57/hr$36,540
3,160 jobs · $17.54/hr$36,470
4,410 jobs · $17.50/hr$36,390
25,100 jobs · $17.43/hr$36,250
11,170 jobs · $17.38/hr$36,140
11,130 jobs · $17.30/hr$35,980
8,860 jobs · $17.22/hr$35,810
3,650 jobs · $17.11/hr$35,600
10,680 jobs · $17.10/hr$35,570
24,740 jobs · $17.00/hr$35,360
8,220 jobs · $16.87/hr$35,090
7,850 jobs · $16.81/hr$34,960
13,130 jobs · $16.78/hr$34,900
7,570 jobs · $15.36/hr$31,950
11,540 jobs · $15.17/hr$31,550
6,530 jobs · $14.54/hr$30,240
4,420 jobs · $14.30/hr$29,740
10,790 jobs · $14.07/hr$29,270
6,420 jobs · $13.17/hr$27,390
8,780 jobs · $13.04/hr$27,120
7,000 jobs · $12.62/hr$26,260
5,740 jobs · $12.26/hr$25,490
Related jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC code 35-2012. Wages exclude the self-employed. All jobs · Minimum wage by state
Questions & answers
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make?
The median wage for cooks, institution and cafeteria in the U.S. was $18.01 an hour or $37,450 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $32,440 and $44,800 a year.
Which state pays cooks, institution and cafeteria the most?
Washington has the highest median wage for cooks, institution and cafeteria: $49,670 a year. The lowest published median is in Louisiana at $25,490. Living costs also differ a lot between states.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria are there?
BLS estimates 441,050 cooks, institution and cafeteria were employed in the U.S. in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median is the middle wage: half of workers earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) adds everyone up and divides, so a few very high earners pull it up. The median is usually the better guide to typical pay.
What does the 10th or 90th percentile mean?
The 10th percentile is the wage that only 10% of workers earn less than – often entry-level pay. The 90th percentile is the wage that only 10% earn more than – usually the most experienced or highest-paid workers.