Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary by location
National median: $37,450 (2025 OEWS). Percentages below describe each area's published median against that national figure.
| Location | Type | Median | vs national | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului, HI | metropolitan | $55,400 | +47.9% | 250 | 2025 |
| San Jose, CA | metropolitan | $51,880 | +38.5% | 2,640 | 2025 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | metropolitan | $51,620 | +37.8% | 240 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | metropolitan | $51,530 | +37.6% | 5,380 | 2025 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | metropolitan | $49,720 | +32.8% | 170 | 2025 |
| WA | state | $49,670 | +32.6% | 9,780 | 2025 |
| Fairbanks, AK | metropolitan | $49,340 | +31.7% | 170 | 2025 |
| Bellingham, WA | metropolitan | $49,320 | +31.7% | 250 | 2025 |
| Bremerton, WA | metropolitan | $49,280 | +31.6% | 240 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | metropolitan | $49,140 | +31.2% | 4,280 | 2025 |
| Olympia, WA | metropolitan | $48,820 | +30.4% | 290 | 2025 |
| AK | state | $48,580 | +29.7% | 1,430 | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | metropolitan | $48,530 | +29.6% | 5,310 | 2025 |
| Anchorage, AK | metropolitan | $48,290 | +28.9% | 530 | 2025 |
| Santa Maria, CA | metropolitan | $48,210 | +28.7% | 430 | 2025 |
| Napa, CA | metropolitan | $48,060 | +28.3% | 130 | 2025 |
| Boulder, CO | metropolitan | $48,020 | +28.2% | 820 | 2025 |
| MA | state | $47,790 | +27.6% | 7,430 | 2025 |
| HI | state | $47,770 | +27.6% | 1,570 | 2025 |
| Pittsfield, MA | metropolitan | $47,740 | +27.5% | 170 | 2025 |
| Burlington, VT | metropolitan | $47,390 | +26.5% | 490 | 2025 |
| Bridgeport, CT | metropolitan | $47,380 | +26.5% | 1,100 | 2025 |
| Hanford, CA | metropolitan | $47,310 | +26.3% | 80 | 2025 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | metropolitan | $47,260 | +26.2% | 420 | 2025 |
| Vallejo, CA | metropolitan | $47,130 | +25.8% | 270 | 2025 |
| San Diego, CA | metropolitan | $47,100 | +25.8% | 3,070 | 2025 |
| Portland, ME | metropolitan | $47,000 | +25.5% | 600 | 2025 |
| Ithaca, NY | metropolitan | $46,870 | +25.2% | 190 | 2025 |
| New York, NY | metropolitan | $46,870 | +25.2% | 15,270 | 2025 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | metropolitan | $46,850 | +25.1% | 250 | 2025 |
| Kennewick, WA | metropolitan | $46,820 | +25.0% | 310 | 2025 |
| Salinas, CA | metropolitan | $46,820 | +25.0% | 350 | 2025 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | metropolitan | $46,780 | +24.9% | 1,080 | 2025 |
| Worcester, MA | metropolitan | $46,780 | +24.9% | 690 | 2025 |
| Yakima, WA | metropolitan | $46,730 | +24.8% | 430 | 2025 |
| Wenatchee, WA | metropolitan | $46,690 | +24.7% | 140 | 2025 |
| Hartford, CT | metropolitan | $46,650 | +24.6% | 1,460 | 2025 |
| RI | state | $46,570 | +24.4% | 1,190 | 2025 |
| Springfield, MA | metropolitan | $46,440 | +24.0% | 450 | 2025 |
| CA | state | $46,390 | +23.9% | 31,660 | 2025 |
| VT | state | $46,370 | +23.8% | 1,330 | 2025 |
| Providence, RI | metropolitan | $46,350 | +23.8% | 1,630 | 2025 |
| Walla Walla, WA | metropolitan | $46,170 | +23.3% | 90 | 2025 |
| CT | state | $46,120 | +23.2% | 4,500 | 2025 |
| New Haven, CT | metropolitan | $46,000 | +22.8% | 790 | 2025 |
| NY | state | $45,880 | +22.5% | 17,670 | 2025 |
| Portland, OR | metropolitan | $45,800 | +22.3% | 3,920 | 2025 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | metropolitan | $45,740 | +22.1% | 650 | 2025 |
| Longview, WA | metropolitan | $45,640 | +21.9% | 120 | 2025 |
| Vineland, NJ | metropolitan | $45,510 | +21.5% | 110 | 2025 |
| Modesto, CA | metropolitan | $45,480 | +21.4% | 330 | 2025 |
| DC | state | $45,450 | +21.4% | 1,500 | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | metropolitan | $45,400 | +21.2% | 9,860 | 2025 |
| NH | state | $45,370 | +21.1% | 1,720 | 2025 |
| Bend, OR | metropolitan | $45,350 | +21.1% | 330 | 2025 |
| Spokane, WA | metropolitan | $45,330 | +21.0% | 750 | 2025 |
| Denver, CO | metropolitan | $45,070 | +20.3% | 4,410 | 2025 |
| Sacramento, CA | metropolitan | $45,020 | +20.2% | 1,780 | 2025 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | metropolitan | $44,970 | +20.1% | 340 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | metropolitan | $44,880 | +19.8% | 5,670 | 2025 |
| Minneapolis, MN | metropolitan | $44,830 | +19.7% | 4,490 | 2025 |
| Salem, OR | metropolitan | $44,690 | +19.3% | 720 | 2025 |
| Manchester, NH | metropolitan | $44,670 | +19.3% | 490 | 2025 |
| Kingston, NY | metropolitan | $44,650 | +19.2% | 190 | 2025 |
| Oxnard, CA | metropolitan | $44,570 | +19.0% | 610 | 2025 |
| NJ | state | $44,520 | +18.9% | 7,490 | 2025 |
| OR | state | $44,520 | +18.9% | 7,150 | 2025 |
| Norwich, CT | metropolitan | $44,510 | +18.9% | 400 | 2025 |
| Riverside, CA | metropolitan | $44,470 | +18.7% | 2,540 | 2025 |
| Salisbury, MD | metropolitan | $44,430 | +18.6% | 100 | 2025 |
| Merced, CA | metropolitan | $44,410 | +18.6% | 190 | 2025 |
| Bozeman, MT | metropolitan | $44,260 | +18.2% | 280 | 2025 |
| Redding, CA | metropolitan | $44,250 | +18.2% | 200 | 2025 |
| Grants Pass, OR | metropolitan | $44,140 | +17.9% | 120 | 2025 |
| Waterbury, CT | metropolitan | $44,110 | +17.8% | 440 | 2025 |
| DE | state | $44,080 | +17.7% | 2,680 | 2025 |
| Stockton, CA | metropolitan | $43,950 | +17.4% | 400 | 2025 |
| Yuba City, CA | metropolitan | $43,940 | +17.3% | 120 | 2025 |
| Bakersfield, CA | metropolitan | $43,910 | +17.2% | 510 | 2025 |
| Naples, FL | metropolitan | $43,890 | +17.2% | 440 | 2025 |
| Eugene, OR | metropolitan | $43,820 | +17.0% | 610 | 2025 |
| Lewiston, ME | metropolitan | $43,730 | +16.8% | 150 | 2025 |
| Albany, NY | metropolitan | $43,550 | +16.3% | 920 | 2025 |
| ME | state | $43,490 | +16.1% | 1,790 | 2025 |
| MN | state | $43,460 | +16.0% | 7,890 | 2025 |
| Reno, NV | metropolitan | $43,270 | +15.5% | 380 | 2025 |
| Rochester, MN | metropolitan | $43,160 | +15.2% | 330 | 2025 |
| Madison, WI | metropolitan | $42,960 | +14.7% | 1,030 | 2025 |
| Trenton, NJ | metropolitan | $42,960 | +14.7% | 460 | 2025 |
| Greeley, CO | metropolitan | $42,950 | +14.7% | 420 | 2025 |
| Bangor, ME | metropolitan | $42,700 | +14.0% | 280 | 2025 |
| Fresno, CA | metropolitan | $42,580 | +13.7% | 900 | 2025 |
| CO | state | $42,500 | +13.5% | 9,440 | 2025 |
| Medford, OR | metropolitan | $42,450 | +13.4% | 340 | 2025 |
| Buffalo, NY | metropolitan | $41,860 | +11.8% | 1,110 | 2025 |
| Visalia, CA | metropolitan | $41,820 | +11.7% | 280 | 2025 |
| Utica, NY | metropolitan | $41,660 | +11.2% | 360 | 2025 |
| Amherst Town, MA | metropolitan | $41,470 | +10.7% | 520 | 2025 |
| MD | state | $41,380 | +10.5% | 3,370 | 2025 |
| Chico, CA | metropolitan | $41,380 | +10.5% | 140 | 2025 |