Trenton-Princeton, NJ · SOC 35-2012

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Trenton-Princeton Metro

Metro area salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025)

Share: Post LinkedIn

Geography used: wage and employment figures cover the full Trenton-Princeton, NJ BLS wage area, not only its central city; the comparison figure is the United States national estimate. Verify with the BLS OEWS source tables.

Median Salary

$42,960

per year in the Trenton-Princeton metro

+15% above

National Median

$37,450

per year nationally

Hourly Rate

$20.65/hr

median hourly

Employment

460

jobs in the Trenton-Princeton metro

The Trenton-Princeton pay distribution spans from $34,930 at the 10th percentile to $53,650 at the 90th, a 1.5× observed spread. Differences in specialization, employer, sector, location, credentials, schedule, and experience may all contribute, but OEWS does not isolate their effects. The 25th percentile sits at $37,370 and the 75th at $48,680, so half of Trenton-Princeton-based cooks, institution and cafeteria earn within that middle band.

Metro figures use establishment work location, not worker residence. BLS draws metro boundaries from the OMB MSA definitions, so Trenton-Princeton, NJ covers the central city plus outlying counties tied to the metro economically. OEWS includes straight-time pay, tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses. It excludes employer health and retirement benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, signing bonuses, and other nonproduction bonuses. The same occupation's national profile, statewide NJ estimate, and peer-metro rows provide distinct geographic comparisons. A published median is a benchmark, not a prediction or ceiling for one worker.

Salary Range in the Trenton-Princeton Metro

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$34,930
25th$37,370
Median$42,960
75th$48,680
90th$53,650

Top Paying Jobs in Trenton-Princeton

1. Obstetricians and Gynecologists Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 30 workers (fewer than 100). $298,050 2. Psychiatrists Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 60 workers (fewer than 100). $294,890 3. Physicians, All Other $279,930 4. Dentists, General $216,750 5. Marketing Managers $208,440 6. Commercial Pilots Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 50 workers (fewer than 100). $205,700 7. Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 50 workers (fewer than 100). $204,160 8. Computer and Information Systems Managers $197,420 9. Architectural and Engineering Managers $196,870 10. Family Medicine Physicians $192,090

Small sample marks a row whose BLS estimate rests on fewer than 100 workers. It is still a published figure, but BLS reports more sampling error for cells this small: the median relative standard error of the mean wage is 3.4% under 100 workers against 2.1% at 100 or more (May 2025 metro estimates). Small gaps in rank between neighbouring rows may not be meaningful.

Similar Occupations in Trenton-Princeton

Other roles inside the Trenton-Princeton, NJ MSA from the same SOC major group.

Bartenders

in Trenton-Princeton

Chefs and Head Cooks

in Trenton-Princeton

Cooks, All Other

in Trenton-Princeton

Cooks, Fast Food

in Trenton-Princeton

Cooks, Private Household

in Trenton-Princeton
Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria against another occupation → ← National Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in NJ →

How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make in the Trenton-Princeton metro area?

How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make in the Trenton-Princeton metro area? ▼
The median annual salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Trenton-Princeton, NJ is $42,960 ($20.65/hour). The salary range spans from $34,930 at the 10th percentile to $53,650 at the 90th percentile.
How does Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in the Trenton-Princeton metro compare nationally? ▼
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Trenton-Princeton, NJ is +15% above the national median of $37,450. There are approximately 460 Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria jobs in this metro area.

Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage figures are computed directly from BLS OEWS data for the full Trenton-Princeton, NJ wage area. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.