Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (SOC 35-2012) earn a median $37,450 a year ($18.01 an hour) in the United States, with 441,050 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Washington.
What cooks, institution and cafeteria do
Institution and cafeteria cooks prepare meals in bulk for schools, hospitals, cafeterias, and similar institutions. Cooks prepare large quantities of food and work to menus that account for special dietary or nutritional restrictions and the number of portions to be served. Food safety is a large part of the day: cooks log temperatures of hot and cold items, and rotate and store food supplies. They portion food onto trays or serving lines and wash their own pots and equipment. Some also direct one or more workers who help prepare and serve meals. They also clean and inspect kitchen appliances and work areas to keep them in working order. Compared with restaurant cooks, these workers cook for a fixed population in large quantities rather than for individual diners ordering from a menu.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the usual education level (about 71 percent).
Also called: Boarding House Cook, Cafeteria Cook, Camp Cook, Cook, Culinary Specialist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $13.69 | $15.60 | $18.01 | $21.54 | $23.88 | $18.66 | 441,050 |
| Annual | $28,480 | $32,440 | $37,450 | $44,800 | $49,670 | $38,810 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where cooks, institution and cafeteria earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington | Hourly | $19.15 | $22.00 | $23.88 | $27.99 | $30.21 | $24.66 | 9,780 | 2.76 | 0.97 |
| Annual | $39,820 | $45,760 | $49,670 | $58,220 | $62,840 | $51,290 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $18.27 | $21.99 | $23.36 | $25.71 | $28.23 | $23.76 | 1,430 | 4.40 | 1.55 |
| Annual | $37,990 | $45,740 | $48,580 | $53,470 | $58,710 | $49,410 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $18.87 | $21.67 | $22.98 | $24.83 | $27.93 | $23.44 | 7,430 | 2.04 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $39,250 | $45,080 | $47,790 | $51,650 | $58,090 | $48,750 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $18.39 | $19.80 | $22.97 | $28.46 | $31.26 | $25.05 | 1,570 | 2.50 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $38,250 | $41,180 | $47,770 | $59,200 | $65,020 | $52,100 | ||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | $18.22 | $19.40 | $22.39 | $23.34 | $28.07 | $22.41 | 1,190 | 2.37 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $37,890 | $40,360 | $46,570 | $48,550 | $58,380 | $46,620 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $18.06 | $19.35 | $22.31 | $25.03 | $28.67 | $23.03 | 31,660 | 1.74 | 0.61 |
| Annual | $37,570 | $40,240 | $46,390 | $52,060 | $59,630 | $47,900 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $15.22 | $16.58 | $17.43 | $19.15 | $22.36 | $18.35 | 25,100 | 2.53 | 0.89 |
| Annual | $31,650 | $34,480 | $36,250 | $39,840 | $46,520 | $38,170 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $11.91 | $14.02 | $17.00 | $18.71 | $21.56 | $16.76 | 24,740 | 1.76 | 0.62 |
| Annual | $24,770 | $29,170 | $35,360 | $38,910 | $44,840 | $34,870 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $13.65 | $14.98 | $17.57 | $19.72 | $22.30 | $17.76 | 24,490 | 4.04 | 1.42 |
| Annual | $28,390 | $31,160 | $36,540 | $41,020 | $46,380 | $36,950 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $14.20 | $15.91 | $17.65 | $18.90 | $22.12 | $17.87 | 23,440 | 4.22 | 1.49 |
| Annual | $29,530 | $33,090 | $36,720 | $39,310 | $46,010 | $37,160 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | Hourly | $18.55 | $22.84 | $26.64 | $30.65 | $35.81 | $27.77 | 250 | 3.35 | 1.18 |
| Annual | $38,580 | $47,510 | $55,400 | $63,750 | $74,490 | $57,770 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $21.95 | $23.38 | $24.94 | $28.23 | $32.57 | $26.10 | 2,640 | 2.32 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $45,660 | $48,630 | $51,880 | $58,720 | $67,750 | $54,290 | ||||
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | Hourly | $19.35 | $21.38 | $24.82 | $29.06 | $29.29 | $24.97 | 240 | 4.56 | 1.61 |
| Annual | $40,240 | $44,470 | $51,620 | $60,450 | $60,930 | $51,930 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $21.75 | $22.88 | $24.77 | $29.05 | $30.54 | $25.87 | 5,380 | 2.58 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $45,250 | $47,590 | $51,530 | $60,420 | $63,510 | $53,820 | ||||
| Barnstable Town, MA | Hourly | $19.08 | $22.63 | $23.91 | $27.05 | $34.85 | $25.41 | 170 | 1.76 | 0.62 |
| Annual | $39,680 | $47,070 | $49,720 | $56,270 | $72,480 | $52,850 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $17.46 | $19.64 | $22.54 | $25.54 | $28.92 | $23.14 | 15,270 | 1.61 | 0.57 |
| Annual | $36,320 | $40,860 | $46,870 | $53,110 | $60,160 | $48,130 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $15.15 | $17.39 | $18.41 | $22.11 | $23.82 | $19.62 | 14,010 | 3.10 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $31,510 | $36,170 | $38,290 | $46,000 | $49,540 | $40,800 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.84 | $18.79 | $21.83 | $23.88 | $28.51 | $22.35 | 9,860 | 1.57 | 0.55 |
| Annual | $37,100 | $39,070 | $45,400 | $49,680 | $59,300 | $46,490 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $14.59 | $17.11 | $18.69 | $21.91 | $23.27 | $19.22 | 9,810 | 3.39 | 1.19 |
| Annual | $30,340 | $35,580 | $38,870 | $45,560 | $48,400 | $39,980 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $13.67 | $15.79 | $17.96 | $19.98 | $22.35 | $18.13 | 6,620 | 1.63 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $28,440 | $32,840 | $37,370 | $41,560 | $46,480 | $37,710 | ||||
Top industries employing cooks, institution and cafeteria
Elementary and Secondary Schools employ 28.8% of cooks, institution and cafeteria nationally (126,950 jobs) at a median $35,560 a year ($17.10 an hour), followed by Special Food Services (16.5%) and Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) (11.2%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary and Secondary Schools NAICS 611100 | 126,950 | 28.8% | $35,560 | $17.10 |
| Special Food Services NAICS 722300 | 72,630 | 16.5% | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) NAICS 623100 | 49,350 | 11.2% | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly NAICS 623300 | 48,510 | 11.0% | $38,620 | $18.57 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 30,550 | 6.9% | $43,950 | $21.13 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (441,050). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $29,910 for cooks, institution and cafeteria in May 2021 and $37,450 in May 2025, with employment of 392,860 and 441,050.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $29,910 | $14.38 | 392,860 |
| May 2022 | $32,510 | $15.63 | 417,780 |
| May 2023 | $35,320 | $16.98 | 435,640 |
| May 2024 | $36,450 | $17.53 | 448,260 |
| May 2025 | $37,450 | $18.01 | 441,050 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington profile | $23.88 | $49,670 | $39,820 | $62,840 | 9,780 | 2.76 | 0.97 |
| 2 | Alaska profile | $23.36 | $48,580 | $37,990 | $58,710 | 1,430 | 4.40 | 1.55 |
| 3 | Massachusetts profile | $22.98 | $47,790 | $39,250 | $58,090 | 7,430 | 2.04 | 0.72 |
| 4 | Hawaii profile | $22.97 | $47,770 | $38,250 | $65,020 | 1,570 | 2.50 | 0.88 |
| 5 | Rhode Island profile | $22.39 | $46,570 | $37,890 | $58,380 | 1,190 | 2.37 | 0.84 |
| 6 | California profile | $22.31 | $46,390 | $37,570 | $59,630 | 31,660 | 1.74 | 0.61 |
| 7 | Vermont profile | $22.29 | $46,370 | $38,120 | $56,560 | 1,330 | 4.39 | 1.55 |
| 8 | Connecticut profile | $22.17 | $46,120 | $38,380 | $56,570 | 4,500 | 2.66 | 0.94 |
| 9 | New York profile | $22.06 | $45,880 | $36,280 | $59,620 | 17,670 | 1.82 | 0.64 |
| 10 | District of Columbia profile | $21.85 | $45,450 | $38,740 | $55,680 | 1,500 | 2.14 | 0.75 |
| 11 | New Hampshire profile | $21.81 | $45,370 | $35,790 | $56,470 | 1,720 | 2.52 | 0.89 |
| 12 | New Jersey profile | $21.40 | $44,520 | $35,500 | $53,060 | 7,490 | 1.75 | 0.62 |
| 13 | Oregon profile | $21.40 | $44,520 | $36,690 | $57,790 | 7,150 | 3.64 | 1.28 |
| 14 | Delaware profile | $21.19 | $44,080 | $35,870 | $47,560 | 2,680 | 5.52 | 1.95 |
| 15 | Maine profile | $20.91 | $43,490 | $36,060 | $50,700 | 1,790 | 2.79 | 0.98 |
| 16 | Minnesota profile | $20.90 | $43,460 | $35,520 | $52,140 | 7,890 | 2.67 | 0.94 |
| 17 | Colorado profile | $20.43 | $42,500 | $36,290 | $50,990 | 9,440 | 3.29 | 1.16 |
| 18 | Maryland profile | $19.89 | $41,380 | $35,520 | $49,750 | 3,370 | 1.22 | 0.43 |
| 19 | Arizona profile | $19.07 | $39,660 | $34,490 | $48,370 | 7,170 | 2.21 | 0.78 |
| 20 | North Dakota profile | $18.99 | $39,490 | $31,300 | $48,670 | 1,820 | 4.23 | 1.49 |
| 21 | Nevada profile | $18.96 | $39,430 | $32,020 | $53,520 | 1,650 | 1.07 | 0.38 |
| 22 | Wisconsin profile | $18.58 | $38,650 | $32,110 | $47,380 | 9,890 | 3.36 | 1.19 |
| 23 | Utah profile | $18.36 | $38,200 | $28,870 | $48,600 | 5,610 | 3.23 | 1.14 |
| 24 | Virginia profile | $18.22 | $37,890 | $30,000 | $47,940 | 11,170 | 2.72 | 0.96 |
| 25 | Illinois profile | $18.00 | $37,440 | $31,200 | $48,130 | 22,840 | 3.75 | 1.32 |
| 26 | Montana profile | $17.86 | $37,150 | $30,500 | $50,600 | 2,290 | 4.48 | 1.58 |
| 27 | Wyoming profile | $17.76 | $36,940 | $29,130 | $47,830 | 1,570 | 5.60 | 1.97 |
| 28 | Michigan profile | $17.72 | $36,870 | $29,800 | $45,540 | 13,500 | 3.07 | 1.08 |
| 29 | South Dakota profile | $17.66 | $36,730 | $30,140 | $45,650 | 2,120 | 4.63 | 1.63 |
| 30 | Ohio profile | $17.65 | $36,720 | $29,530 | $46,010 | 23,440 | 4.22 | 1.49 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania profile | $17.57 | $36,540 | $28,390 | $46,380 | 24,490 | 4.04 | 1.42 |
| 32 | New Mexico profile | $17.54 | $36,470 | $28,920 | $45,330 | 3,160 | 3.63 | 1.28 |
| 33 | Nebraska profile | $17.50 | $36,390 | $29,890 | $45,380 | 4,410 | 4.30 | 1.52 |
| 34 | Florida profile | $17.43 | $36,250 | $31,650 | $46,520 | 25,100 | 2.53 | 0.89 |
| 35 | North Carolina profile | $17.38 | $36,140 | $28,050 | $45,130 | 11,170 | 2.26 | 0.80 |
| 36 | Indiana profile | $17.30 | $35,980 | $29,280 | $44,760 | 11,130 | 3.48 | 1.23 |
| 37 | Iowa profile | $17.22 | $35,810 | $28,030 | $44,150 | 8,860 | 5.69 | 2.00 |
| 38 | Idaho profile | $17.11 | $35,600 | $28,330 | $45,550 | 3,650 | 4.25 | 1.50 |
| 39 | Tennessee profile | $17.10 | $35,570 | $27,830 | $45,430 | 10,680 | 3.26 | 1.15 |
| 40 | Texas profile | $17.00 | $35,360 | $24,770 | $44,840 | 24,740 | 1.76 | 0.62 |
| 41 | Georgia profile | $16.87 | $35,090 | $28,220 | $44,540 | 8,220 | 1.68 | 0.59 |
| 42 | South Carolina profile | $16.81 | $34,960 | $21,890 | $42,680 | 7,850 | 3.40 | 1.20 |
| 43 | Missouri profile | $16.78 | $34,900 | $28,600 | $43,700 | 13,130 | 4.47 | 1.58 |
| 44 | Kansas profile | $15.36 | $31,950 | $25,440 | $42,000 | 7,570 | 5.27 | 1.86 |
| 45 | Kentucky profile | $15.17 | $31,550 | $25,580 | $45,720 | 11,540 | 5.77 | 2.03 |
| 46 | Arkansas profile | $14.54 | $30,240 | $25,810 | $39,720 | 6,530 | 5.01 | 1.77 |
| 47 | West Virginia profile | $14.30 | $29,740 | $23,820 | $38,470 | 4,420 | 6.30 | 2.22 |
| 48 | Oklahoma profile | $14.07 | $29,270 | $21,620 | $38,670 | 10,790 | 6.32 | 2.23 |
| 49 | Mississippi profile | $13.17 | $27,390 | $20,760 | $36,620 | 6,420 | 5.52 | 1.95 |
| 50 | Alabama profile | $13.04 | $27,120 | $20,040 | $37,960 | 8,780 | 4.15 | 1.46 |
| 51 | Louisiana profile | $12.26 | $25,490 | $19,250 | $36,200 | 5,740 | 2.97 | 1.05 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (35-2010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 35-2012 Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 35-2012, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 35-2012.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.