Average Salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
SOC 35-2012 · Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the United States is $36,450 ($17.53/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $26,800 at the 10th percentile to $48,320 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 448,260 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 55.5% since 2014.
Median Annual
$36,450
Mean Annual
$37,310
10th Pct
$26,800
75th Pct
$42,860
Employment
448,260
Salary Distribution
$27k
10th
$31k
25th
$36k
Median
$43k
75th
$48k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $54,840 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $50,290 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $49,850 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $48,940 |
| Bellingham, WA | $48,050 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $48,000 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $47,920 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $47,920 |
| Napa, CA | $47,910 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $47,700 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $47,540 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $47,420 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $47,410 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $46,910 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $46,760 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Washington | $48,260 |
| Hawaii | $47,250 |
| Alaska | $46,900 |
| Massachusetts | $46,280 |
| Connecticut | $45,870 |
| California | $45,680 |
| District of Columbia | $45,600 |
| Rhode Island | $45,450 |
| New Hampshire | $45,280 |
| New York | $45,160 |
| New Jersey | $44,050 |
| Delaware | $43,490 |
| Minnesota | $42,180 |
| Oregon | $41,870 |
| Vermont | $41,020 |
| Colorado | $40,890 |
| Maine | $39,810 |
| Arizona | $39,470 |
| North Dakota | $39,060 |
| Maryland | $38,900 |
| Nevada | $38,550 |
| Wisconsin | $37,840 |
| Utah | $37,740 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,830 |
| Montana | $36,690 |
| Illinois | $36,430 |
| Virginia | $36,260 |
| Ohio | $36,250 |
| Michigan | $35,870 |
| Wyoming | $35,650 |
| Florida | $35,640 |
| Nebraska | $35,630 |
| South Dakota | $35,360 |
| Indiana | $35,080 |
| Georgia | $34,960 |
| North Carolina | $34,590 |
| Iowa | $34,560 |
| New Mexico | $34,240 |
| Idaho | $33,880 |
| Guam | $33,640 |
| Texas | $32,780 |
| Tennessee | $31,910 |
| South Carolina | $31,730 |
| Missouri | $30,920 |
| Kansas | $30,920 |
| Kentucky | $30,770 |
| Virgin Islands | $29,940 |
| Arkansas | $29,700 |
| West Virginia | $28,790 |
| Oklahoma | $28,710 |
| Alabama | $26,780 |
| Louisiana | $26,410 |
| Mississippi | $25,830 |
| Puerto Rico | $25,380 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $54,250 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $54,250 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $51,310 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | $49,370 |
| Support Activities for Water Transportation | $49,370 |
| Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation | $47,350 |
| Inland Water Transportation | $47,000 |
| Water Transportation | $47,000 |
| Traveler Accommodation | $44,700 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | $44,420 |
| Casino Hotels | $44,340 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers | $44,320 |
| Insurance Carriers | $44,110 |
| Direct Insurance (except Life, Health, and Medical) Carriers | $44,110 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $43,640 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $43,640 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $43,520 |
| Finance and Insurance | $43,510 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $43,320 |
| Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | $42,490 |
| Junior Colleges | $42,310 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $42,200 |
| Manufacturing | $42,040 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $42,020 |
| Hospitals | $41,770 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | $41,770 |
| Gambling Industries | $41,770 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $41,700 |
| Rail Transportation | $41,680 |
| Rail Transportation | $41,680 |
| Food Manufacturing | $41,640 |
| Accommodation | $41,620 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $41,270 |
| Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) | $40,890 |
| Offices of Physicians | $40,340 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $39,880 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $39,880 |
| Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities | $39,810 |
| Other Food Manufacturing | $39,710 |
| Business Schools and Computer and Management Training | $39,700 |
| Spectator Sports | $39,460 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | $39,400 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $39,350 |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | $39,210 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $39,200 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $39,200 |
| Wholesale Trade | $39,150 |
| Real Estate | $39,010 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers | $38,940 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $38,920 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $38,920 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $38,920 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $38,880 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $38,750 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities | $38,580 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps | $38,480 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | $38,430 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) | $38,390 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $38,340 |
| Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists | $38,230 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $38,180 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $38,040 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) | $38,030 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | $37,940 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly | $37,860 |
| Other Residential Care Facilities | $37,860 |
| Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers | $37,840 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $37,840 |
| Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | $37,760 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | $37,560 |
| Special Food Services | $37,530 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation | $37,500 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water | $37,500 |
| Technical and Trade Schools | $37,470 |
| Home Health Care Services | $37,440 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places | $37,300 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $37,280 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $37,150 |
| Food and Beverage Retailers (4451 and 4452 only) | $37,070 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities | $37,040 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $37,030 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $37,030 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $37,030 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $37,030 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $36,880 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries | $36,820 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services | $36,630 |
| Amusement Parks and Arcades | $36,590 |
| Engineering Services | $36,520 |
| Food and Beverage Retailers | $36,420 |
| Religious Organizations | $36,410 |
| Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services | $36,360 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $36,210 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | $36,210 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $36,210 |
| Educational Services | $36,140 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | $36,110 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries | $36,100 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries | $36,100 |
| Information | $36,100 |
| Motion Picture and Video Exhibition | $36,050 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $35,720 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $35,720 |
| Temporary Help Services | $35,620 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $35,470 |
| Facilities Support Services | $35,240 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers | $35,220 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities | $35,180 |
| Performing Arts Companies | $35,130 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | $35,130 |
| Personal and Laundry Services | $35,120 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $35,010 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $34,970 |
| Employment Services | $34,970 |
| RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps | $34,810 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $34,780 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $34,650 |
| Individual and Family Services | $34,360 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $34,230 |
| Educational Support Services | $34,080 |
| Educational Services | $34,010 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $33,980 |
| Social Assistance | $33,770 |
| Restaurants and Other Eating Places | $33,760 |
| Child Care Services | $32,960 |
| Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities | $32,860 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $31,950 |
| Other Support Services | $29,680 |
| Retail Trade | $29,410 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | $26,810 |
| Gasoline Stations and Fuel Dealers | $26,740 |
| Gasoline Stations | $26,740 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers | $26,140 |
| Grantmaking and Giving Services | $24,870 |
| Construction | $24,750 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $36,450 |
| 2023 | $35,320 |
| 2022 | $32,510 |
| 2021 | $29,910 |
| 2020 | $28,650 |
| 2019 | $27,750 |
| 2018 | $26,860 |
| 2017 | $25,860 |
| 2016 | $24,750 |
| 2015 | $23,960 |
| 2014 | $23,440 |