Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in the United States
What this work is
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
Where the money actually goes furthest
Washington pays the highest headline figure at $49,670. Adjusted for what things cost there it is worth $46,416 — less than Alaska, where $48,580 is worth $47,459.
Pay by state
54 states and territories publish a median for this occupation. Switch the ranking to see how much the order changes.
Adjusted for what things cost in that state.
| State | Hourly | Annual | Worth locally | After state tax | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $23.36/hr | $48,580 | $47,459 | $48,580 | 1,430 |
| Vermont | $22.29/hr | $46,370 | $47,335 | $45,051 | 1,330 |
| Washington | $23.88/hr | $49,670 | $46,416 | $49,670 | 9,780 |
| Rhode Island | $22.39/hr | $46,570 | $45,531 | $45,219 | 1,190 |
| Massachusetts | $22.98/hr | $47,790 | $45,187 | $45,400 | 7,430 |
| Maine | $20.91/hr | $43,490 | $44,811 | $41,794 | 1,790 |
| Connecticut | $22.17/hr | $46,120 | $44,513 | $44,294 | 4,500 |
| North Dakota | $18.99/hr | $39,490 | $44,390 | $39,490 | 1,820 |
| Delaware | $21.19/hr | $44,080 | $44,163 | $42,200 | 2,680 |
| Minnesota | $20.90/hr | $43,460 | $44,068 | $41,914 | 7,890 |
| New Hampshire | $21.81/hr | $45,370 | $43,553 | $45,370 | 1,720 |
| Hawaii | $22.97/hr | $47,770 | $43,447 | $45,564 | 1,570 |
| Oregon | $21.40/hr | $44,520 | $43,072 | $41,165 | 7,150 |
| New York | $22.06/hr | $45,880 | $42,512 | $43,961 | 17,670 |
| California | $22.31/hr | $46,390 | $41,898 | $45,361 | 31,660 |
| South Dakota | $17.66/hr | $36,730 | $41,460 | $36,730 | 2,120 |
| District of Columbia | $21.85/hr | $45,450 | $41,355 | $43,799 | 1,500 |
| Colorado | $20.43/hr | $42,500 | $41,242 | $41,314 | 9,440 |
| Wisconsin | $18.58/hr | $38,650 | $41,073 | $37,663 | 9,890 |
| New Jersey | $21.40/hr | $44,520 | $40,915 | $43,552 | 7,490 |
| Iowa | $17.22/hr | $35,810 | $40,804 | $35,004 | 8,860 |
| Nebraska | $17.50/hr | $36,390 | $40,388 | $35,386 | 4,410 |
| Wyoming | $17.76/hr | $36,940 | $39,853 | $36,940 | 1,570 |
| Ohio | $17.65/hr | $36,720 | $39,581 | $36,426 | 23,440 |
| New Mexico | $17.54/hr | $36,470 | $39,551 | $35,772 | 3,160 |
| Nevada | $18.96/hr | $39,430 | $39,437 | $39,430 | 1,650 |
| Maryland | $19.89/hr | $41,380 | $39,424 | $39,595 | 3,370 |
| Arizona | $19.07/hr | $39,660 | $39,392 | $39,033 | 7,170 |
| Montana | $17.86/hr | $37,150 | $39,249 | $36,072 | 2,290 |
| Tennessee | $17.10/hr | $35,570 | $38,717 | $35,570 | 10,680 |
| Utah | $18.36/hr | $38,200 | $38,640 | $36,461 | 5,610 |
| Indiana | $17.30/hr | $35,980 | $38,551 | $34,930 | 11,130 |
| Missouri | $16.78/hr | $34,900 | $38,427 | $34,116 | 13,130 |
| Michigan | $17.72/hr | $36,870 | $38,318 | $35,541 | 13,500 |
| North Carolina | $17.38/hr | $36,140 | $38,312 | $35,145 | 11,170 |
| Virginia | $18.22/hr | $37,890 | $37,477 | $36,457 | 11,170 |
| Illinois | $18.00/hr | $37,440 | $37,454 | $35,724 | 22,840 |
| Pennsylvania | $17.57/hr | $36,540 | $37,450 | $35,418 | 24,490 |
| South Carolina | $16.81/hr | $34,960 | $37,290 | $34,375 | 7,850 |
| Idaho | $17.11/hr | $35,600 | $37,281 | $34,487 | 3,650 |
| Georgia | $16.87/hr | $35,090 | $36,442 | $33,891 | 8,220 |
| Texas | $17.00/hr | $35,360 | $36,431 | $35,360 | 24,740 |
| Kansas | $15.36/hr | $31,950 | $35,472 | $30,455 | 7,570 |
| Florida | $17.43/hr | $36,250 | $35,054 | $36,250 | 25,100 |
| Kentucky | $15.17/hr | $31,550 | $34,993 | $30,414 | 11,540 |
| Arkansas | $14.54/hr | $30,240 | $34,782 | $29,237 | 6,530 |
| Oklahoma | $14.07/hr | $29,270 | $33,321 | $28,369 | 10,790 |
| West Virginia | $14.30/hr | $29,740 | $33,229 | $28,916 | 4,420 |
| Mississippi | $13.17/hr | $27,390 | $31,500 | $26,286 | 6,420 |
| Alabama | $13.04/hr | $27,120 | $30,533 | $25,954 | 8,780 |
| Louisiana | $12.26/hr | $25,490 | $28,896 | $25,100 | 5,740 |
| Guam | $17.09/hr | $35,540 | Not published | Not published | 100 |
| Virgin Islands | $14.64/hr | $30,440 | Not published | Not published | 110 |
| Puerto Rico | $12.62/hr | $26,260 | Not published | Not published | 7,000 |
National median for comparison: $37,450. “Worth locally” divides pay by the area’s price level, so a figure above the headline means money goes further there than the US average.
$18.01/hr an hour, national median
Across the states
25th to 75th percentile, lowest and highest state
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