BLS metro-level wage data places Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area at a median of $45,190 per year ($21.73/hr/hour), drawn from the OEWS May 2025 release for this Metropolitan Statistical Area. Compared to the national median of $37,450, Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area pays +21% above, signaling either concentrated employer demand, a cost-of-living premium, or both. Approximately 230 cooks, institution and cafeterias are employed across the Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area MSA in SOC 35-2012.

The Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area pay distribution spans from $35,370 at the 10th percentile to $54,930 at the 90th — a 1.6× spread that reflects experience tenure, specialization, employer size, and the difference between public-sector, nonprofit, and private-sector compensation inside the metro. The 25th percentile sits at $39,780 and the 75th at $47,940, so half of Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area-based cooks, institution and cafeterias earn within that middle band.

Metro figures capture where you actually work, not just where you live — which matters for commuters. BLS draws metro boundaries from the OMB MSA definitions, so Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area covers the central city plus outlying counties tied to the metro economically. Remember that OEWS wages reflect base pay only: employer-provided health insurance, retirement matches, stock options, signing bonuses, overtime, and tips are excluded and can add 20-40% to real total compensation. Before using this metro median as a negotiation anchor, triangulate against the same occupation's national profile (linked below), its state-wide NH data, and peer-metro comparisons — a median is a starting point, not a ceiling.