Cooks (Institution and Cafeteria) Salary by State
The national median pay for cooks (institution and cafeteria) is $37,450 a year. By state, it ranges from $25,490 in Louisiana to $49,670 in Washington.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $28,480
- 25th percentile
- $32,440
- Median
- $37,450
- 75th percentile
- $44,800
- Top 10%
- $49,670
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 441,050 jobs.
Median pay in 50 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $49,670 | +33% | $39,820 | $62,840 | 9,780 |
| 2 | Alaska | $48,580 | +30% | $37,990 | $58,710 | 1,430 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $47,790 | +28% | $39,250 | $58,090 | 7,430 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $47,770 | +28% | $38,250 | $65,020 | 1,570 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $46,570 | +24% | $37,890 | $58,380 | 1,190 |
| 6 | California | $46,390 | +24% | $37,570 | $59,630 | 31,660 |
| 7 | Vermont | $46,370 | +24% | $38,120 | $56,560 | 1,330 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $46,120 | +23% | $38,380 | $56,570 | 4,500 |
| 9 | New York | $45,880 | +23% | $36,280 | $59,620 | 17,670 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $45,450 | +21% | $38,740 | $55,680 | 1,500 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $45,370 | +21% | $35,790 | $56,470 | 1,720 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $44,520 | +19% | $35,500 | $53,060 | 7,490 |
| 13 | Oregon | $44,520 | +19% | $36,690 | $57,790 | 7,150 |
| 14 | Delaware | $44,080 | +18% | $35,870 | $47,560 | 2,680 |
| 15 | Maine | $43,490 | +16% | $36,060 | $50,700 | 1,790 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $43,460 | +16% | $35,520 | $52,140 | 7,890 |
| 17 | Colorado | $42,500 | +13% | $36,290 | $50,990 | 9,440 |
| 18 | Maryland | $41,380 | +10% | $35,520 | $49,750 | 3,370 |
| 19 | Arizona | $39,660 | +6% | $34,490 | $48,370 | 7,170 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $39,490 | +5% | $31,300 | $48,670 | 1,820 |
| 21 | Nevada | $39,430 | +5% | $32,020 | $53,520 | 1,650 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $38,650 | +3% | $32,110 | $47,380 | 9,890 |
| 23 | Utah | $38,200 | +2% | $28,870 | $48,600 | 5,610 |
| 24 | Virginia | $37,890 | +1% | $30,000 | $47,940 | 11,170 |
| 25 | Illinois | $37,440 | 0% | $31,200 | $48,130 | 22,840 |
| 26 | Montana | $37,150 | −1% | $30,500 | $50,600 | 2,290 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $36,940 | −1% | $29,130 | $47,830 | 1,570 |
| 28 | Michigan | $36,870 | −2% | $29,800 | $45,540 | 13,500 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $36,730 | −2% | $30,140 | $45,650 | 2,120 |
| 30 | Ohio | $36,720 | −2% | $29,530 | $46,010 | 23,440 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $36,540 | −2% | $28,390 | $46,380 | 24,490 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $36,470 | −3% | $28,920 | $45,330 | 3,160 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $36,390 | −3% | $29,890 | $45,380 | 4,410 |
| 34 | Florida | $36,250 | −3% | $31,650 | $46,520 | 25,100 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $36,140 | −3% | $28,050 | $45,130 | 11,170 |
| 36 | Indiana | $35,980 | −4% | $29,280 | $44,760 | 11,130 |
| 37 | Iowa | $35,810 | −4% | $28,030 | $44,150 | 8,860 |
| 38 | Idaho | $35,600 | −5% | $28,330 | $45,550 | 3,650 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $35,570 | −5% | $27,830 | $45,430 | 10,680 |
| 40 | Texas | $35,360 | −6% | $24,770 | $44,840 | 24,740 |
| 41 | Georgia | $35,090 | −6% | $28,220 | $44,540 | 8,220 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $34,960 | −7% | $21,890 | $42,680 | 7,850 |
| 43 | Missouri | $34,900 | −7% | $28,600 | $43,700 | 13,130 |
| 44 | Kansas | $31,950 | −15% | $25,440 | $42,000 | 7,570 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $31,550 | −16% | $25,580 | $45,720 | 11,540 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $30,240 | −19% | $25,810 | $39,720 | 6,530 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $29,740 | −21% | $23,820 | $38,470 | 4,420 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $29,270 | −22% | $21,620 | $38,670 | 10,790 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $27,390 | −27% | $20,760 | $36,620 | 6,420 |
| 50 | Alabama | $27,120 | −28% | $20,040 | $37,960 | 8,780 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $25,490 | −32% | $19,250 | $36,200 | 5,740 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Cooks (Institution and Cafeteria) salary questions
Which state pays cooks (institution and cafeteria) the most?
Washington, with a median of $49,670 a year (+33% vs. the national median of $37,450). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays cooks (institution and cafeteria) the least?
Louisiana, with a median of $25,490 a year (−32% vs. national).
Where do most cooks (institution and cafeteria) work?
California has the most jobs, about 31,660, with a median of $46,390.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.