35 Series · SOC 35-2012
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $37,450
- Median / year
- $49,670
- Top 10% earn
- +2%
- Growth '23–'33
- 441,050
- US workers
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria earn a median of $37,450 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $37,450, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $28,480 (10th percentile) to $49,670 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 441,050 US workers. Washington pays the most ($49,670), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria earn a median of $37,450, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 7% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Food Preparation and Serving Related, it ranks #5 of 17 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 2% by 2033.
- $37,450
- Median annual wage
- Top 93%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #5 of 17
- in Food Preparation and Serving Related
- 1.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Washington at $49,670. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (SOC 35-2012) pays a national median of $37,450 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $28,480 at the 10th percentile to $49,670 at the 90th, with a mean of $38,810 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 441,050 Americans work in this occupation across 54 reporting states and 526 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +2% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 69,700 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.6 per 100,000 and injury rate of 2.4 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Washington pays the highest state median at $49,670, which is +33% above the national figure. The top metro is Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area at $56,480 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 441,050 jobs Median $37,450/yr
Median Salary
$37,450
per year
Median Hourly
$18.01/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$38,810
average
Employment
441,050
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$37,450 Bottom 7% higher than 7% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 35-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 17 35-series occupations with growth data, Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria sits on the slower-growing side at +2% growth and $37,450 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+2%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
69,700
per year (projected)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → A
Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.6/100K
Injury Rate
2.4/100
Danger Index
9.9/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Speaking 3.1
Monitoring 3.1
Service Orientation 3.1
Operations Monitoring 3.1
Quality Control Analysis 3.1
Judgment and Decision Making 3.1
Active Listening 3.0
Critical Thinking 3.0
Coordination 3.0
Complex Problem Solving 3.0
Knowledge Areas
English Language 3.6
Food Production 3.6
Customer and Personal Service 3.6
Mathematics 3.5
Administration and Management 3.3
Production and Processing 3.1
Public Safety and Security 3.0
Education and Training 2.9
Computers and Electronics 2.7
Personnel and Human Resources 2.6
Key Tasks
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Wash pots, pans, dishes, utensils, or other cooking equipment.
- ▸ Apportion and serve food to facility residents, employees, or patrons.
- ▸ Clean and inspect galley equipment, kitchen appliances, and work areas to ensure cleanliness and functional operation.
- ▸ Clean, cut, and cook meat, fish, or poultry.
- ▸ Monitor use of government food commodities to ensure that proper procedures are followed.
- ▸ Direct activities of one or more workers who assist in preparing and serving meals.
- ▸ Plan menus that are varied, nutritionally balanced, and appetizing, taking advantage of foods in season and local availability.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$28,480
25th Percentile
$32,440
Median
$37,450
75th Percentile
$44,800
90th Percentile
$49,670
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 54 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $49,670 | +33% above national |
| 2 | Alaska | $48,580 | +30% above national |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $47,790 | +28% above national |
| 4 | Hawaii | $47,770 | +28% above national |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $46,570 | +24% above national |
| 6 | California | $46,390 | +24% above national |
| 7 | Vermont | $46,370 | +24% above national |
| 8 | Connecticut | $46,120 | +23% above national |
| 9 | New York | $45,880 | +23% above national |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $45,450 | +21% above national |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $45,370 | +21% above national |
| 12 | New Jersey | $44,520 | +19% above national |
| 13 | Oregon | $44,520 | +19% above national |
| 14 | Delaware | $44,080 | +18% above national |
| 15 | Maine | $43,490 | +16% above national |
| 16 | Minnesota | $43,460 | +16% above national |
| 17 | Colorado | $42,500 | +13% above national |
| 18 | Maryland | $41,380 | +10% above national |
| 19 | Arizona | $39,660 | +6% above national |
| 20 | North Dakota | $39,490 | +5% above national |
| 21 | Nevada | $39,430 | +5% above national |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $38,650 | +3% above national |
| 23 | Utah | $38,200 | +2% above national |
| 24 | Virginia | $37,890 | +1% above national |
| 25 | Illinois | $37,440 | same as national |
| 26 | Montana | $37,150 | 1% below national |
| 27 | Wyoming | $36,940 | 1% below national |
| 28 | Michigan | $36,870 | 2% below national |
| 29 | South Dakota | $36,730 | 2% below national |
| 30 | Ohio | $36,720 | 2% below national |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $36,540 | 2% below national |
| 32 | New Mexico | $36,470 | 3% below national |
| 33 | Nebraska | $36,390 | 3% below national |
| 34 | Florida | $36,250 | 3% below national |
| 35 | North Carolina | $36,140 | 3% below national |
| 36 | Indiana | $35,980 | 4% below national |
| 37 | Iowa | $35,810 | 4% below national |
| 38 | Idaho | $35,600 | 5% below national |
| 39 | Tennessee | $35,570 | 5% below national |
| 40 | Guam | $35,540 | 5% below national |
| 41 | Texas | $35,360 | 6% below national |
| 42 | Georgia | $35,090 | 6% below national |
| 43 | South Carolina | $34,960 | 7% below national |
| 44 | Missouri | $34,900 | 7% below national |
| 45 | Kansas | $31,950 | 15% below national |
| 46 | Kentucky | $31,550 | 16% below national |
| 47 | Virgin Islands | $30,440 | 19% below national |
| 48 | Arkansas | $30,240 | 19% below national |
| 49 | West Virginia | $29,740 | 21% below national |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $29,270 | 22% below national |
| 51 | Mississippi | $27,390 | 27% below national |
| 52 | Alabama | $27,120 | 28% below national |
| 53 | Puerto Rico | $26,260 | 30% below national |
| 54 | Louisiana | $25,490 | 32% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 526 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $56,480 | +51% above national |
| 2 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $55,400 | +48% above national |
| 3 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $51,880 | +39% above national |
| 4 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $51,620 | +38% above national |
| 5 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $51,530 | +38% above national |
| 6 | Barnstable Town, MA | $49,720 | +33% above national |
| 7 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $49,340 | +32% above national |
| 8 | Bellingham, WA | $49,320 | +32% above national |
| 9 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $49,280 | +32% above national |
| 10 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49,140 | +31% above national |
| 11 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $48,820 | +30% above national |
| 12 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $48,530 | +30% above national |
| 13 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $48,520 | +30% above national |
| 14 | Anchorage, AK | $48,290 | +29% above national |
| 15 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $48,210 | +29% above national |
| 16 | Napa, CA | $48,060 | +28% above national |
| 17 | Boulder, CO | $48,020 | +28% above national |
| 18 | Pittsfield, MA | $47,740 | +27% above national |
| 19 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $47,560 | +27% above national |
| 20 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $47,410 | +27% above national |
| 21 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $47,390 | +27% above national |
| 22 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $47,380 | +27% above national |
| 23 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $47,310 | +26% above national |
| 24 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $47,260 | +26% above national |
| 25 | Vallejo, CA | $47,130 | +26% above national |
| 26 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $47,100 | +26% above national |
| 27 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $47,000 | +26% above national |
| 28 | Ithaca, NY | $46,870 | +25% above national |
| 29 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $46,870 | +25% above national |
| 30 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $46,850 | +25% above national |
| 31 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $46,830 | +25% above national |
| 32 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $46,820 | +25% above national |
| 33 | Salinas, CA | $46,820 | +25% above national |
| 34 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $46,780 | +25% above national |
| 35 | Worcester, MA | $46,780 | +25% above national |
| 36 | Yakima, WA | $46,730 | +25% above national |
| 37 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $46,690 | +25% above national |
| 38 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $46,690 | +25% above national |
| 39 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $46,650 | +25% above national |
| 40 | Springfield, MA | $46,440 | +24% above national |
| 41 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $46,350 | +24% above national |
| 42 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $46,290 | +24% above national |
| 43 | Walla Walla, WA | $46,170 | +23% above national |
| 44 | New Haven, CT | $46,000 | +23% above national |
| 45 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $45,800 | +22% above national |
| 46 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $45,800 | +22% above national |
| 47 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $45,770 | +22% above national |
| 48 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $45,740 | +22% above national |
| 49 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $45,710 | +22% above national |
| 50 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $45,670 | +22% above national |
| 51 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $45,640 | +22% above national |
| 52 | Vineland, NJ | $45,510 | +22% above national |
| 53 | Modesto, CA | $45,480 | +21% above national |
| 54 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $45,400 | +21% above national |
| 55 | Bend, OR | $45,350 | +21% above national |
| 56 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $45,330 | +21% above national |
| 57 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $45,190 | +21% above national |
| 58 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $45,070 | +20% above national |
| 59 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $45,020 | +20% above national |
| 60 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $44,970 | +20% above national |
| 61 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $44,880 | +20% above national |
| 62 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $44,830 | +20% above national |
| 63 | Salem, OR | $44,690 | +19% above national |
| 64 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $44,670 | +19% above national |
| 65 | Kingston, NY | $44,650 | +19% above national |
| 66 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $44,570 | +19% above national |
| 67 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $44,510 | +19% above national |
| 68 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $44,470 | +19% above national |
| 69 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $44,460 | +19% above national |
| 70 | Salisbury, MD | $44,430 | +19% above national |
| 71 | Merced, CA | $44,410 | +19% above national |
| 72 | Bozeman, MT | $44,260 | +18% above national |
| 73 | Redding, CA | $44,250 | +18% above national |
| 74 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $44,250 | +18% above national |
| 75 | Grants Pass, OR | $44,140 | +18% above national |
| 76 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $44,110 | +18% above national |
| 77 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $43,950 | +17% above national |
| 78 | Yuba City, CA | $43,940 | +17% above national |
| 79 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $43,940 | +17% above national |
| 80 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $43,920 | +17% above national |
| 81 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $43,910 | +17% above national |
| 82 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $43,890 | +17% above national |
| 83 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $43,820 | +17% above national |
| 84 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $43,730 | +17% above national |
| 85 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $43,550 | +16% above national |
| 86 | Reno, NV | $43,270 | +16% above national |
| 87 | Rochester, MN | $43,160 | +15% above national |
| 88 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $43,120 | +15% above national |
| 89 | Madison, WI | $42,960 | +15% above national |
| 90 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $42,960 | +15% above national |
| 91 | Greeley, CO | $42,950 | +15% above national |
| 92 | Bangor, ME | $42,700 | +14% above national |
| 93 | Fresno, CA | $42,580 | +14% above national |
| 94 | Medford, OR | $42,450 | +13% above national |
| 95 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $42,320 | +13% above national |
| 96 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $42,030 | +12% above national |
| 97 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $41,930 | +12% above national |
| 98 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $41,860 | +12% above national |
| 99 | Visalia, CA | $41,820 | +12% above national |
| 100 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $41,730 | +11% above national |
| 101 | Utica-Rome, NY | $41,660 | +11% above national |
| 102 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $41,470 | +11% above national |
| 103 | Chico, CA | $41,380 | +10% above national |
| 104 | Dover, DE | $41,370 | +10% above national |
| 105 | Fargo, ND-MN | $41,120 | +10% above national |
| 106 | El Centro, CA | $40,980 | +9% above national |
| 107 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $40,720 | +9% above national |
| 108 | St. Cloud, MN | $40,590 | +8% above national |
| 109 | Binghamton, NY | $40,510 | +8% above national |
| 110 | Syracuse, NY | $40,450 | +8% above national |
| 111 | Lexington Park, MD | $40,420 | +8% above national |
| 112 | Mankato, MN | $40,410 | +8% above national |
| 113 | Flagstaff, AZ | $40,380 | +8% above national |
| 114 | Duluth, MN-WI | $40,300 | +8% above national |
| 115 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $40,290 | +8% above national |
| 116 | Ann Arbor, MI | $40,250 | +7% above national |
| 117 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $40,240 | +7% above national |
| 118 | Glens Falls, NY | $40,190 | +7% above national |
| 119 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $40,120 | +7% above national |
| 120 | Albany, OR | $40,000 | +7% above national |
| 121 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $39,990 | +7% above national |
| 122 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $39,900 | +7% above national |
| 123 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $39,870 | +6% above national |
| 124 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $39,870 | +6% above national |
| 125 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $39,860 | +6% above national |
| 126 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $39,770 | +6% above national |
| 127 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $39,570 | +6% above national |
| 128 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $39,560 | +6% above national |
| 129 | Santa Fe, NM | $39,370 | +5% above national |
| 130 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $39,310 | +5% above national |
| 131 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $39,190 | +5% above national |
| 132 | Grand Junction, CO | $39,140 | +5% above national |
| 133 | Colorado Springs, CO | $39,110 | +4% above national |
| 134 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $39,050 | +4% above national |
| 135 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $39,030 | +4% above national |
| 136 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $38,980 | +4% above national |
| 137 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $38,970 | +4% above national |
| 138 | Corvallis, OR | $38,950 | +4% above national |
| 139 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $38,920 | +4% above national |
| 140 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $38,880 | +4% above national |
| 141 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $38,870 | +4% above national |
| 142 | Traverse City, MI | $38,780 | +4% above national |
| 143 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $38,740 | +3% above national |
| 144 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $38,730 | +3% above national |
| 145 | Rochester, NY | $38,670 | +3% above national |
| 146 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $38,660 | +3% above national |
| 147 | Green Bay, WI | $38,640 | +3% above national |
| 148 | Battle Creek, MI | $38,580 | +3% above national |
| 149 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $38,580 | +3% above national |
| 150 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $38,570 | +3% above national |
| 151 | Minot, ND | $38,570 | +3% above national |
| 152 | Pueblo, CO | $38,560 | +3% above national |
| 153 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $38,550 | +3% above national |
| 154 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $38,530 | +3% above national |
| 155 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $38,520 | +3% above national |
| 156 | Charlottesville, VA | $38,510 | +3% above national |
| 157 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $38,500 | +3% above national |
| 158 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $38,440 | +3% above national |
| 159 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $38,440 | +3% above national |
| 160 | Jackson, MI | $38,360 | +2% above national |
| 161 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $38,330 | +2% above national |
| 162 | Bismarck, ND | $38,310 | +2% above national |
| 163 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $38,290 | +2% above national |
| 164 | Casper, WY | $38,230 | +2% above national |
| 165 | Gainesville, GA | $38,220 | +2% above national |
| 166 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $38,180 | +2% above national |
| 167 | Wausau, WI | $38,170 | +2% above national |
| 168 | Kenosha, WI | $38,150 | +2% above national |
| 169 | Goldsboro, NC | $38,120 | +2% above national |
| 170 | Appleton, WI | $38,110 | +2% above national |
| 171 | Columbus, OH | $38,100 | +2% above national |
| 172 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $38,090 | +2% above national |
| 173 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $38,000 | +1% above national |
| 174 | Eau Claire, WI | $37,990 | +1% above national |
| 175 | Bloomington, IL | $37,950 | +1% above national |
| 176 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $37,910 | +1% above national |
| 177 | Harrisonburg, VA | $37,900 | +1% above national |
| 178 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $37,840 | +1% above national |
| 179 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $37,830 | +1% above national |
| 180 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $37,800 | +1% above national |
| 181 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $37,800 | +1% above national |
| 182 | Albuquerque, NM | $37,740 | +1% above national |
| 183 | Billings, MT | $37,700 | +1% above national |
| 184 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $37,690 | +1% above national |
| 185 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $37,690 | +1% above national |
| 186 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $37,650 | +1% above national |
| 187 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $37,620 | same as national |
| 188 | Tucson, AZ | $37,620 | same as national |
| 189 | Asheville, NC | $37,550 | same as national |
| 190 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $37,500 | same as national |
| 191 | Sheboygan, WI | $37,470 | same as national |
| 192 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $37,460 | same as national |
| 193 | Lawton, OK | $37,450 | same as national |
| 194 | St. George, UT | $37,440 | same as national |
| 195 | Sebring, FL | $37,380 | same as national |
| 196 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $37,370 | same as national |
| 197 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $37,370 | same as national |
| 198 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $37,360 | same as national |
| 199 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $37,340 | same as national |
| 200 | Farmington, NM | $37,310 | same as national |
| 201 | Missoula, MT | $37,270 | same as national |
| 202 | Ogden, UT | $37,240 | 1% below national |
| 203 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $37,240 | 1% below national |
| 204 | Bloomington, IN | $37,230 | 1% below national |
| 205 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $37,220 | 1% below national |
| 206 | Fayetteville, NC | $37,200 | 1% below national |
| 207 | Fond du Lac, WI | $37,200 | 1% below national |
| 208 | Punta Gorda, FL | $37,200 | 1% below national |
| 209 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $37,200 | 1% below national |
| 210 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $37,190 | 1% below national |
| 211 | Helena, MT | $37,190 | 1% below national |
| 212 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $37,180 | 1% below national |
| 213 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $37,180 | 1% below national |
| 214 | Richmond, VA | $37,140 | 1% below national |
| 215 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $37,130 | 1% below national |
| 216 | Logan, UT-ID | $37,110 | 1% below national |
| 217 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $37,100 | 1% below national |
| 218 | State College, PA | $37,100 | 1% below national |
| 219 | Akron, OH | $37,080 | 1% below national |
| 220 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $37,080 | 1% below national |
| 221 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $37,070 | 1% below national |
| 222 | Lancaster, PA | $37,040 | 1% below national |
| 223 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $37,030 | 1% below national |
| 224 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $37,010 | 1% below national |
| 225 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $36,990 | 1% below national |
| 226 | Elmira, NY | $36,990 | 1% below national |
| 227 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $36,970 | 1% below national |
| 228 | Cleveland, OH | $36,930 | 1% below national |
| 229 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $36,890 | 1% below national |
| 230 | Dubuque, IA | $36,890 | 1% below national |
| 231 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $36,880 | 2% below national |
| 232 | Midland, MI | $36,870 | 2% below national |
| 233 | Rapid City, SD | $36,870 | 2% below national |
| 234 | Lincoln, NE | $36,830 | 2% below national |
| 235 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $36,830 | 2% below national |
| 236 | Toledo, OH | $36,760 | 2% below national |
| 237 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $36,760 | 2% below national |
| 238 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $36,760 | 2% below national |
| 239 | Decatur, IL | $36,750 | 2% below national |
| 240 | Omaha, NE-IA | $36,750 | 2% below national |
| 241 | Carson City, NV | $36,740 | 2% below national |
| 242 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $36,740 | 2% below national |
| 243 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $36,710 | 2% below national |
| 244 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $36,680 | 2% below national |
| 245 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $36,680 | 2% below national |
| 246 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $36,670 | 2% below national |
| 247 | Iowa City, IA | $36,670 | 2% below national |
| 248 | Winston-Salem, NC | $36,670 | 2% below national |
| 249 | Reading, PA | $36,590 | 2% below national |
| 250 | Ames, IA | $36,540 | 2% below national |
| 251 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $36,540 | 2% below national |
| 252 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $36,530 | 2% below national |
| 253 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $36,510 | 3% below national |
| 254 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $36,510 | 3% below national |
| 255 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,490 | 3% below national |
| 256 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $36,480 | 3% below national |
| 257 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $36,470 | 3% below national |
| 258 | Midland, TX | $36,470 | 3% below national |
| 259 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $36,470 | 3% below national |
| 260 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $36,410 | 3% below national |
| 261 | Gainesville, FL | $36,400 | 3% below national |
| 262 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $36,400 | 3% below national |
| 263 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $36,360 | 3% below national |
| 264 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $36,350 | 3% below national |
| 265 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $36,320 | 3% below national |
| 266 | Fort Wayne, IN | $36,300 | 3% below national |
| 267 | Kokomo, IN | $36,290 | 3% below national |
| 268 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $36,260 | 3% below national |
| 269 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $36,250 | 3% below national |
| 270 | Lebanon, PA | $36,230 | 3% below national |
| 271 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $36,230 | 3% below national |
| 272 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $36,200 | 3% below national |
| 273 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $36,190 | 3% below national |
| 274 | Niles, MI | $36,180 | 3% below national |
| 275 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $36,170 | 3% below national |
| 276 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $36,130 | 4% below national |
| 277 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $36,100 | 4% below national |
| 278 | Pittsburgh, PA | $36,100 | 4% below national |
| 279 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $36,080 | 4% below national |
| 280 | Lawrence, KS | $36,080 | 4% below national |
| 281 | Las Cruces, NM | $36,060 | 4% below national |
| 282 | Wilmington, NC | $36,050 | 4% below national |
| 283 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $36,030 | 4% below national |
| 284 | York-Hanover, PA | $36,030 | 4% below national |
| 285 | Peoria, IL | $35,980 | 4% below national |
| 286 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $35,970 | 4% below national |
| 287 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $35,940 | 4% below national |
| 288 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $35,920 | 4% below national |
| 289 | Boise City, ID | $35,890 | 4% below national |
| 290 | Mansfield, OH | $35,890 | 4% below national |
| 291 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $35,890 | 4% below national |
| 292 | Sandusky, OH | $35,880 | 4% below national |
| 293 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $35,880 | 4% below national |
| 294 | Lima, OH | $35,820 | 4% below national |
| 295 | Monroe, MI | $35,800 | 4% below national |
| 296 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $35,800 | 4% below national |
| 297 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $35,800 | 4% below national |
| 298 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $35,790 | 4% below national |
| 299 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $35,790 | 4% below national |
| 300 | Cheyenne, WY | $35,780 | 4% below national |
| 301 | Gettysburg, PA | $35,770 | 4% below national |
| 302 | Great Falls, MT | $35,770 | 4% below national |
| 303 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $35,740 | 5% below national |
| 304 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $35,740 | 5% below national |
| 305 | Williamsport, PA | $35,720 | 5% below national |
| 306 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $35,680 | 5% below national |
| 307 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $35,680 | 5% below national |
| 308 | Roanoke, VA | $35,670 | 5% below national |
| 309 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $35,670 | 5% below national |
| 310 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $35,660 | 5% below national |
| 311 | Grand Island, NE | $35,630 | 5% below national |
| 312 | Erie, PA | $35,620 | 5% below national |
| 313 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $35,610 | 5% below national |
| 314 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $35,610 | 5% below national |
| 315 | Springfield, IL | $35,600 | 5% below national |
| 316 | Springfield, OH | $35,590 | 5% below national |
| 317 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $35,570 | 5% below national |
| 318 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $35,550 | 5% below national |
| 319 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $35,530 | 5% below national |
| 320 | Columbus, IN | $35,490 | 5% below national |
| 321 | Savannah, GA | $35,480 | 5% below national |
| 322 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $35,480 | 5% below national |
| 323 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $35,400 | 5% below national |
| 324 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $35,380 | 6% below national |
| 325 | Winchester, VA-WV | $35,350 | 6% below national |
| 326 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $35,350 | 6% below national |
| 327 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $35,320 | 6% below national |
| 328 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $35,320 | 6% below national |
| 329 | Paducah, KY-IL | $35,310 | 6% below national |
| 330 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $35,290 | 6% below national |
| 331 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $35,270 | 6% below national |
| 332 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $35,250 | 6% below national |
| 333 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $35,220 | 6% below national |
| 334 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $35,210 | 6% below national |
| 335 | Kankakee, IL | $35,200 | 6% below national |
| 336 | Evansville, IN | $35,180 | 6% below national |
| 337 | Knoxville, TN | $35,150 | 6% below national |
| 338 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $35,140 | 6% below national |
| 339 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $35,130 | 6% below national |
| 340 | Lynchburg, VA | $35,120 | 6% below national |
| 341 | Jackson, TN | $35,110 | 6% below national |
| 342 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $35,100 | 6% below national |
| 343 | Saginaw, MI | $35,060 | 6% below national |
| 344 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $35,040 | 6% below national |
| 345 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $35,040 | 6% below national |
| 346 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $35,000 | 7% below national |
| 347 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $34,980 | 7% below national |
| 348 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $34,970 | 7% below national |
| 349 | Bay City, MI | $34,950 | 7% below national |
| 350 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $34,930 | 7% below national |
| 351 | Chambersburg, PA | $34,910 | 7% below national |
| 352 | Twin Falls, ID | $34,880 | 7% below national |
| 353 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $34,880 | 7% below national |
| 354 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $34,870 | 7% below national |
| 355 | Burlington, NC | $34,860 | 7% below national |
| 356 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $34,860 | 7% below national |
| 357 | Greenville, NC | $34,840 | 7% below national |
| 358 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $34,810 | 7% below national |
| 359 | Columbia, SC | $34,800 | 7% below national |
| 360 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $34,780 | 7% below national |
| 361 | Tallahassee, FL | $34,710 | 7% below national |
| 362 | Yuma, AZ | $34,680 | 7% below national |
| 363 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $34,640 | 8% below national |
| 364 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $34,640 | 8% below national |
| 365 | Altoona, PA | $34,610 | 8% below national |
| 366 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $34,600 | 8% below national |
| 367 | Rockford, IL | $34,580 | 8% below national |
| 368 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $34,570 | 8% below national |
| 369 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $34,530 | 8% below national |
| 370 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $34,520 | 8% below national |
| 371 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $34,510 | 8% below national |
| 372 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $34,480 | 8% below national |
| 373 | Springfield, MO | $34,450 | 8% below national |
| 374 | Waco, TX | $34,410 | 8% below national |
| 375 | Muncie, IN | $34,370 | 8% below national |
| 376 | Odessa, TX | $34,330 | 8% below national |
| 377 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $34,270 | 8% below national |
| 378 | Idaho Falls, ID | $34,260 | 9% below national |
| 379 | Manhattan, KS | $34,100 | 9% below national |
| 380 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $34,100 | 9% below national |
| 381 | Spartanburg, SC | $34,080 | 9% below national |
| 382 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $34,070 | 9% below national |
| 383 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $33,960 | 9% below national |
| 384 | San Angelo, TX | $33,930 | 9% below national |
| 385 | Columbia, MO | $33,900 | 9% below national |
| 386 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $33,880 | 10% below national |
| 387 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $33,860 | 10% below national |
| 388 | Jacksonville, NC | $33,820 | 10% below national |
| 389 | Pocatello, ID | $33,720 | 10% below national |
| 390 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $33,710 | 10% below national |
| 391 | Flint, MI | $33,570 | 10% below national |
| 392 | Rocky Mount, NC | $33,560 | 10% below national |
| 393 | Florence, SC | $33,540 | 10% below national |
| 394 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $33,530 | 10% below national |
| 395 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $33,440 | 11% below national |
| 396 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $33,430 | 11% below national |
| 397 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $33,410 | 11% below national |
| 398 | Ocala, FL | $33,410 | 11% below national |
| 399 | Terre Haute, IN | $33,300 | 11% below national |
| 400 | Topeka, KS | $33,200 | 11% below national |
| 401 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $33,170 | 11% below national |
| 402 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $32,950 | 12% below national |
| 403 | Amarillo, TX | $32,880 | 12% below national |
| 404 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $32,800 | 12% below national |
| 405 | Jonesboro, AR | $32,720 | 13% below national |
| 406 | Lake Charles, LA | $32,460 | 13% below national |
| 407 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $32,440 | 13% below national |
| 408 | Wichita Falls, TX | $32,400 | 13% below national |
| 409 | Cleveland, TN | $32,220 | 14% below national |
| 410 | Hot Springs, AR | $32,140 | 14% below national |
| 411 | Columbus, GA-AL | $31,940 | 15% below national |
| 412 | Abilene, TX | $31,850 | 15% below national |
| 413 | Wichita, KS | $31,850 | 15% below national |
| 414 | Jefferson City, MO | $31,840 | 15% below national |
| 415 | Morgantown, WV | $31,770 | 15% below national |
| 416 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $31,700 | 15% below national |
| 417 | Bowling Green, KY | $31,550 | 16% below national |
| 418 | Johnson City, TN | $31,330 | 16% below national |
| 419 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $31,240 | 17% below national |
| 420 | Rome, GA | $31,150 | 17% below national |
| 421 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $31,090 | 17% below national |
| 422 | Joplin, MO-KS | $31,070 | 17% below national |
| 423 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $31,040 | 17% below national |
| 424 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $30,850 | 18% below national |
| 425 | Tulsa, OK | $30,750 | 18% below national |
| 426 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $30,660 | 18% below national |
| 427 | Tyler, TX | $30,600 | 18% below national |
| 428 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $30,600 | 18% below national |
| 429 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $30,590 | 18% below national |
| 430 | Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $30,590 | 18% below national |
| 431 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $30,580 | 18% below national |
| 432 | Oklahoma City, OK | $30,540 | 18% below national |
| 433 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $30,480 | 19% below national |
| 434 | Corpus Christi, TX | $30,470 | 19% below national |
| 435 | Johnstown, PA | $30,450 | 19% below national |
| 436 | Albany, GA | $30,430 | 19% below national |
| 437 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $30,410 | 19% below national |
| 438 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $30,310 | 19% below national |
| 439 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $30,300 | 19% below national |
| 440 | Elizabethtown, KY | $30,260 | 19% below national |
| 441 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $30,190 | 19% below national |
| 442 | Owensboro, KY | $30,170 | 19% below national |
| 443 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $30,170 | 19% below national |
| 444 | Morristown, TN | $30,080 | 20% below national |
| 445 | Charleston, WV | $30,050 | 20% below national |
| 446 | Warner Robins, GA | $30,050 | 20% below national |
| 447 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $29,990 | 20% below national |
| 448 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $29,920 | 20% below national |
| 449 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $29,850 | 20% below national |
| 450 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $29,800 | 20% below national |
| 451 | Valdosta, GA | $29,710 | 21% below national |
| 452 | Lubbock, TX | $29,700 | 21% below national |
| 453 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $29,690 | 21% below national |
| 454 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $29,680 | 21% below national |
| 455 | Beckley, WV | $29,630 | 21% below national |
| 456 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,630 | 21% below national |
| 457 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $29,460 | 21% below national |
| 458 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $29,390 | 22% below national |
| 459 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $29,380 | 22% below national |
| 460 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $29,370 | 22% below national |
| 461 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $29,360 | 22% below national |
| 462 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $29,340 | 22% below national |
| 463 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $29,300 | 22% below national |
| 464 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $29,260 | 22% below national |
| 465 | Longview, TX | $29,220 | 22% below national |
| 466 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $29,220 | 22% below national |
| 467 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $29,190 | 22% below national |
| 468 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $29,080 | 22% below national |
| 469 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $29,000 | 23% below national |
| 470 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $28,950 | 23% below national |
| 471 | Sumter, SC | $28,880 | 23% below national |
| 472 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $28,880 | 23% below national |
| 473 | Victoria, TX | $28,860 | 23% below national |
| 474 | Puerto Rico nonmetropolitan area | $28,850 | 23% below national |
| 475 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $28,820 | 23% below national |
| 476 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $28,790 | 23% below national |
| 477 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $28,770 | 23% below national |
| 478 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $28,650 | 23% below national |
| 479 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $28,630 | 24% below national |
| 480 | Mobile, AL | $28,580 | 24% below national |
| 481 | Ponce, PR | $28,540 | 24% below national |
| 482 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $28,300 | 24% below national |
| 483 | El Paso, TX | $28,110 | 25% below national |
| 484 | Huntsville, AL | $28,110 | 25% below national |
| 485 | Dothan, AL | $27,860 | 26% below national |
| 486 | Eagle Pass, TX | $27,710 | 26% below national |
| 487 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $27,620 | 26% below national |
| 488 | Hattiesburg, MS | $27,600 | 26% below national |
| 489 | Laredo, TX | $27,570 | 26% below national |
| 490 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $27,450 | 27% below national |
| 491 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $27,380 | 27% below national |
| 492 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $27,280 | 27% below national |
| 493 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $27,270 | 27% below national |
| 494 | Birmingham, AL | $27,220 | 27% below national |
| 495 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $27,210 | 27% below national |
| 496 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $27,100 | 28% below national |
| 497 | Enid, OK | $27,090 | 28% below national |
| 498 | Jackson, MS | $26,980 | 28% below national |
| 499 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $26,960 | 28% below national |
| 500 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $26,870 | 28% below national |
| 501 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $26,750 | 29% below national |
| 502 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $26,450 | 29% below national |
| 503 | Lafayette, LA | $26,400 | 30% below national |
| 504 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $26,270 | 30% below national |
| 505 | Aguadilla, PR | $26,260 | 30% below national |
| 506 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $26,260 | 30% below national |
| 507 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $26,090 | 30% below national |
| 508 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $26,060 | 30% below national |
| 509 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $25,490 | 32% below national |
| 510 | Baton Rouge, LA | $24,740 | 34% below national |
| 511 | Arecibo, PR | $24,410 | 35% below national |
| 512 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $24,260 | 35% below national |
| 513 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $23,960 | 36% below national |
| 514 | Mayaguez, PR | $23,820 | 36% below national |
| 515 | Decatur, AL | $23,650 | 37% below national |
| 516 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $23,600 | 37% below national |
| 517 | Guayama, PR | $23,570 | 37% below national |
| 518 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $23,570 | 37% below national |
| 519 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $23,480 | 37% below national |
| 520 | Montgomery, AL | $23,080 | 38% below national |
| 521 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $23,000 | 39% below national |
| 522 | Monroe, LA | $22,980 | 39% below national |
| 523 | Gadsden, AL | $22,480 | 40% below national |
| 524 | Alexandria, LA | $21,690 | 42% below national |
| 525 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $21,430 | 43% below national |
| 526 | Hammond, LA | $20,680 | 45% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 35 (food preparation and serving) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make? ▼
The median annual salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria is $37,450 ($18.01/hour). The salary range spans from $28,480 at the 10th percentile to $49,670 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria the most? ▼
Washington pays the highest median salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria at $49,670/year, which is +33% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria is No formal educational credential. On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria? ▼
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.6 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 2.4 per 100 workers.
Is Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria a good career? ▼
Employment for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria is projected to grow 2% from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than average. About 69,700 openings are projected each year.
How does Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay vary by state? ▼
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Washington at $49,670/year, while Oklahoma pays the least at $29,270/year. BLS data covers 54 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria is Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area at $56,480/year. BLS reports wage data for 526 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $44,800/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Washington leads at $49,670/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.