Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · 441K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$37,450
Median hourly
$18
Average annual
$38,810
Typical range
$28,480–$49,670
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria is $37,450 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $18 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias..
Most earn between $28,480 and $49,670 a year. There are roughly 441K people employed as cooks, institution and cafeteria in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria.
- Hourly
- $18.00
- Daily
- $144
- Weekly
- $720
- Bi-weekly
- $1,440
- Monthly
- $3,121
- Annual
- $37,450
$37,450 a year is around the 50th percentile for Cooks, Institution and Cafeterias. The median is $37,450.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Washington$49,670
- 2Alaska$48,580
- 3Massachusetts$47,790
- 4Hawaii$47,770
- 5Rhode Island$46,570
- 6California$46,390
- 7Vermont$46,370
- 8Connecticut$46,120
- 9New York$45,880
- 10District of Columbia$45,450
- 11New Hampshire$45,370
- 12New Jersey$44,520
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Kahului-Wailuku, HI$55,400
- 2San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$51,880
- 3Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA$51,620
- 4Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$51,530
- 5Barnstable Town, MA$49,720
- 6Fairbanks-College, AK$49,340
- 7Bellingham, WA$49,320
- 8Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$49,280
- 9San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$49,140
- 10Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA$48,820
- 11Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$48,530
- 12Anchorage, AK$48,290
Related job titles
Employers advertise Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria roles under these titles.
Related occupations
What a Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria does
- Monitor and record food temperatures to ensure food safety.
- Cook foodstuffs according to menus, special dietary or nutritional restrictions, or numbers of portions to be served.
- Rotate and store food supplies.
- Clean and inspect galley equipment, kitchen appliances, and work areas to ensure cleanliness and functional operation.
- Wash pots, pans, dishes, utensils, or other cooking equipment.
- Direct activities of one or more workers who assist in preparing and serving meals.
- Bake breads, rolls, or other pastries.
- Clean, cut, and cook meat, fish, or poultry.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make?
- The median annual wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria is $37,450 ($18 per hour). Pay ranges from about $28,480 at the 10th percentile to $49,670 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $38,810, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Cooks, Institution and Cafeterias the most?
- Washington has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $49,670.
- Is Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 441K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria do?
- Monitor and record food temperatures to ensure food safety.; Cook foodstuffs according to menus, special dietary or nutritional restrictions, or numbers of portions to be served.; Rotate and store food supplies..