BLS metro-level wage data places Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area at a median of $46,290 per year ($22.25/hr/hour), drawn from the OEWS May 2025 release for this Metropolitan Statistical Area. Compared to the national median of $37,450, Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area pays +24% above, signaling either concentrated employer demand, a cost-of-living premium, or both. Approximately 370 cooks, institution and cafeterias are employed across the Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area MSA in SOC 35-2012.

The Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area pay distribution spans from $35,950 at the 10th percentile to $59,580 at the 90th — a 1.7× 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 $37,960 and the 75th at $51,210, so half of Northwest Colorado 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 Northwest Colorado 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 CO data, and peer-metro comparisons — a median is a starting point, not a ceiling.