391 metro areas
Cook, Institution and Cafeteria Salary by City (2026)
Cooks earn the most in Kahului, HI, an average of $57,760 a year, against $38,810 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in Barnstable Town, MA ($53,740 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.
- US average (mean)
- $38,810BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Highest-paying city
- $57,760Kahului, HI
- Best after cost of living
- $53,740Barnstable Town, MA
- Metro areas
- 391With their own estimate
Top cities
Highest-paying cities for cooks
Top 10 metro areas
- Kahului, HI$57,760
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,810
- Barnstable Town, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
- Mount Vernon, WA$51,940
- Fairbanks, AK$51,500
- Olympia, WA$50,630
- Vallejo, CA$50,500
- Napa, CA$50,320
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $57,760 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $54,290 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $53,810 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $52,850 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $52,440 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $51,940 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $51,500 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $50,630 |
| Vallejo, CA | $50,500 |
| Napa, CA | $50,320 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Mean wage ÷ BEA price level
- Barnstable Town, MA$52,850 nominal$53,740
- Kahului, HI$57,760 nominal$52,800
- Mount Vernon, WA$51,940 nominal$50,700
- Pittsfield, MA$47,650 nominal$50,100
- Fairbanks, AK$51,500 nominal$49,900
- San Jose, CA$54,290 nominal$49,170
- Yakima, WA$46,900 nominal$49,090
- Olympia, WA$50,630 nominal$48,840
- Seattle, WA$53,810 nominal$48,420
- Bellingham, WA$49,880 nominal$48,270
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Barnstable Town, MA | $53,740 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $52,800 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $50,700 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $50,100 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $49,900 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $49,170 |
| Yakima, WA | $49,090 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $48,840 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $48,420 |
| Bellingham, WA | $48,270 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024
Every city
Cook, Institution and Cafeteria salary in every metro area
Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.
| # | Metro area | Mean | Entry (Level I) | Experienced (Level IV) | At US prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $57,760 | $43,370 | $64,850 | $52,800 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $54,290 | $46,010 | $58,360 | $49,170 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $53,810 | $45,220 | $58,050 | $48,420 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $52,850 | $43,180 | $57,620 | $53,740 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $52,440 | $43,410 | $56,890 | $45,360 |
| 6 | Mount Vernon, WA | $51,940 | $42,100 | $56,760 | $50,700 |
| 7 | Fairbanks, AK | $51,500 | $44,220 | $55,080 | $49,900 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $50,630 | $41,250 | $55,240 | $48,840 |
| 9 | Vallejo, CA | $50,500 | $39,730 | $55,810 | $46,550 |
| 10 | Napa, CA | $50,320 | $40,730 | $55,060 | $44,710 |
| 11 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $50,250 | $38,110 | $56,220 | $45,290 |
| 12 | Bellingham, WA | $49,880 | $41,040 | $54,230 | $48,270 |
| 13 | Boston, MA-NH | $49,750 | $42,430 | $53,330 | $45,950 |
| 14 | Santa Cruz, CA | $49,340 | $39,600 | $54,140 | $44,900 |
| 15 | Santa Maria, CA | $49,070 | $39,100 | $53,980 | $45,100 |
| 16 | Anchorage, AK | $49,030 | $41,580 | $52,690 | $46,510 |
| 17 | Santa Rosa, CA | $49,000 | $40,980 | $52,960 | $45,460 |
| 18 | Bremerton, WA | $48,690 | $40,500 | $52,710 | $46,100 |
| 19 | Bridgeport, CT | $48,510 | $42,390 | $51,520 | $45,390 |
| 20 | San Diego, CA | $48,170 | $39,830 | $52,290 | $43,050 |
| 21 | Salinas, CA | $48,150 | $39,540 | $52,420 | $44,160 |
| 22 | Burlington, VT | $48,130 | $40,770 | $51,770 | $47,680 |
| 23 | New York, NY-NJ | $48,130 | $38,330 | $52,960 | $42,760 |
| 24 | Kennewick, WA | $47,670 | $41,200 | $50,860 | $47,630 |
| 25 | Pittsfield, MA | $47,650 | $40,140 | $51,380 | $50,100 |
| 26 | Hanford, CA | $47,530 | $38,250 | $52,100 | $46,780 |
| 27 | Portland, OR-WA | $47,030 | $38,960 | $51,000 | $44,610 |
| 28 | Worcester, MA | $46,920 | $40,270 | $50,190 | $45,770 |
| 29 | Yakima, WA | $46,900 | $40,120 | $50,230 | $49,090 |
| 30 | New Haven, CT | $46,860 | $39,210 | $50,630 | $44,820 |
| 31 | Bend, OR | $46,680 | $37,900 | $51,000 | $45,050 |
| 32 | Kiryas Joel, NY | $46,650 | $37,860 | $51,000 | $42,630 |
| 33 | Wenatchee, WA | $46,650 | $40,500 | $49,690 | $44,920 |
| 34 | Longview, WA | $46,610 | $40,680 | $49,550 | $47,780 |
| 35 | Modesto, CA | $46,530 | $38,250 | $50,610 | $44,690 |
| 36 | Boulder, CO | $46,510 | $38,480 | $50,480 | $44,210 |
| 37 | Los Angeles, CA | $46,490 | $37,860 | $50,730 | $40,940 |
| 38 | Spokane, WA | $46,470 | $39,150 | $50,070 | $46,310 |
| 39 | Walla Walla, WA | $46,430 | $38,600 | $50,270 | $47,130 |
| 40 | Hartford, CT | $46,320 | $38,790 | $50,020 | $45,080 |
| 41 | Oxnard, CA | $46,240 | $38,080 | $50,250 | $41,830 |
| 42 | Salisbury, MD | $46,110 | $35,240 | $51,480 | $48,220 |
| 43 | Providence, RI-MA | $46,070 | $38,440 | $49,840 | $45,270 |
| 44 | Salem, OR | $46,010 | $36,920 | $50,480 | $44,390 |
| 45 | Sacramento, CA | $45,780 | $37,440 | $49,880 | $42,920 |
| 46 | Portland, ME | $45,720 | $38,770 | $49,130 | $44,890 |
| 47 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $45,680 | $38,310 | $49,300 | $42,060 |
| 48 | Riverside, CA | $45,640 | $37,110 | $49,860 | $42,880 |
| 49 | Kingston, NY | $45,610 | $37,610 | $49,570 | $45,290 |
| 50 | Amherst Town, MA | $45,590 | $40,310 | $48,190 | $45,480 |
| 51 | Redding, CA | $45,390 | $37,340 | $49,340 | $45,080 |
| 52 | Ithaca, NY | $45,070 | $38,500 | $48,300 | $43,620 |
| 53 | Springfield, MA | $45,070 | $37,940 | $48,590 | $46,920 |
| 54 | Stockton, CA | $45,050 | $37,650 | $48,690 | $42,870 |
| 55 | Merced, CA | $44,990 | $37,670 | $48,610 | $45,780 |
| 56 | Bakersfield, CA | $44,970 | $37,440 | $48,650 | $44,580 |
| 57 | Vineland, NJ | $44,970 | $36,650 | $49,050 | $46,860 |
| 58 | Yuba City, CA | $44,970 | $37,630 | $48,590 | $43,140 |
| 59 | Denver, CO | $44,800 | $38,790 | $47,780 | $42,350 |
| 60 | Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $44,720 | $37,650 | $48,190 | $41,070 |
| 61 | Minneapolis, MN-WI | $44,680 | $37,190 | $48,380 | $42,620 |
| 62 | Grants Pass, OR | $44,430 | $37,250 | $47,960 | $45,450 |
| 63 | Naples, FL | $44,390 | $36,230 | $48,380 | $43,010 |
| 64 | Bozeman, MT | $44,160 | $33,490 | $49,400 | $43,080 |
| 65 | Eugene, OR | $44,050 | $36,320 | $47,880 | $43,370 |
| 66 | Norwich, CT | $44,030 | $37,540 | $47,220 | $43,830 |
| 67 | Albany, NY | $43,760 | $36,960 | $47,110 | $43,950 |
| 68 | Medford, OR | $43,660 | $36,630 | $47,110 | $43,040 |
| 69 | Greeley, CO | $43,530 | $37,000 | $46,760 | $43,450 |
| 70 | Waterbury, CT | $43,490 | $37,400 | $46,490 | $43,590 |
| 71 | Manchester, NH | $43,470 | $35,400 | $47,470 | $41,140 |
| 72 | Syracuse, NY | $43,410 | $36,300 | $46,920 | $45,340 |
| 73 | Bangor, ME | $43,370 | $36,860 | $46,570 | $44,940 |
| 74 | Trenton, NJ | $43,310 | $35,630 | $47,090 | $41,980 |
| 75 | Buffalo, NY | $43,220 | $36,320 | $46,630 | $45,090 |
| 76 | Lewiston, ME | $43,080 | $36,300 | $46,430 | $45,470 |
| 77 | Visalia, CA | $43,040 | $36,590 | $46,220 | $43,120 |
| 78 | Fresno, CA | $42,890 | $36,460 | $46,050 | $41,980 |
| 79 | Chico, CA | $42,850 | $37,400 | $45,530 | $42,340 |
| 80 | Fort Collins, CO | $42,470 | $37,000 | $45,180 | $42,000 |
| 81 | Reno, NV | $42,450 | $33,990 | $46,630 | $42,020 |
| 82 | Fargo, ND-MN | $42,430 | $34,630 | $46,260 | $46,690 |
| 83 | Utica, NY | $42,410 | $35,570 | $45,800 | $45,760 |
| 84 | Phoenix, AZ | $42,240 | $36,550 | $45,070 | $40,880 |
| 85 | Las Vegas, NV | $42,220 | $34,260 | $46,130 | $42,130 |
| 86 | Corvallis, OR | $42,120 | $36,820 | $44,740 | $40,490 |
| 87 | Salt Lake City, UT | $42,100 | $35,070 | $45,550 | $41,740 |
| 88 | Rochester, MN | $42,080 | $35,420 | $45,340 | $46,330 |
| 89 | Binghamton, NY | $42,020 | $35,710 | $45,120 | $45,250 |
| 90 | Madison, WI | $42,020 | $34,440 | $45,740 | $43,190 |
| 91 | St. Cloud, MN | $41,970 | $36,110 | $44,890 | $47,890 |
| 92 | Atlantic City, NJ | $41,930 | $35,710 | $45,010 | $42,410 |
| 93 | Albany, OR | $41,910 | $34,900 | $45,360 | $41,050 |
| 94 | Flagstaff, AZ | $41,850 | $34,240 | $45,590 | $41,710 |
| 95 | Mankato, MN | $41,830 | $36,070 | $44,660 | $45,990 |
| 96 | Colorado Springs, CO | $41,810 | $36,280 | $44,510 | $41,520 |
| 97 | El Centro, CA | $41,810 | $35,960 | $44,680 | $43,930 |
| 98 | Glens Falls, NY | $41,810 | $37,090 | $44,140 | $44,070 |
| 99 | Santa Fe, NM | $41,790 | $34,670 | $45,300 | $42,310 |
| 100 | Lexington Park, MD | $41,700 | $35,550 | $44,740 | $41,390 |
| 101 | Ann Arbor, MI | $41,680 | $34,590 | $45,180 | $41,320 |
| 102 | Baltimore, MD | $41,680 | $35,820 | $44,550 | $39,890 |
| 103 | Dover, DE | $41,290 | $36,610 | $43,600 | $42,350 |
| 104 | Minot, ND | $41,270 | $33,380 | $45,140 | $47,420 |
| 105 | Duluth, MN-WI | $41,230 | $34,280 | $44,640 | $46,450 |
| 106 | Prescott Valley, AZ | $41,160 | $34,170 | $44,620 | $41,890 |
| 107 | Watertown, NY | $41,040 | $34,990 | $44,030 | $46,800 |
| 108 | Rochester, NY | $41,000 | $35,690 | $43,620 | $42,250 |
| 109 | Chicago, IL-IN | $40,810 | $33,900 | $44,200 | $39,390 |
| 110 | Virginia Beach, VA-NC | $40,750 | $32,610 | $44,740 | $41,610 |
| 111 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $40,640 | $32,590 | $44,600 | $46,890 |
| 112 | Milwaukee, WI | $40,440 | $33,550 | $43,830 | $41,720 |
| 113 | Champaign, IL | $40,390 | $33,430 | $43,830 | $43,570 |
| 114 | Bismarck, ND | $40,230 | $34,220 | $43,200 | $44,200 |
| 115 | Oshkosh, WI | $40,230 | $33,360 | $43,600 | $43,290 |
| 116 | Orlando, FL | $40,190 | $33,070 | $43,700 | $39,630 |
| 117 | Elmira, NY | $40,100 | $33,530 | $43,350 | $42,480 |
| 118 | Kenosha, WI | $40,080 | $33,550 | $43,310 | $39,640 |
| 119 | Grand Junction, CO | $40,040 | $35,380 | $42,330 | $41,940 |
| 120 | Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $39,980 | $31,700 | $44,050 | $38,980 |
| 121 | Traverse City, MI | $39,960 | $35,340 | $42,220 | $42,800 |
| 122 | Racine, WI | $39,830 | $32,930 | $43,240 | $41,510 |
| 123 | Columbus, OH | $39,620 | $33,240 | $42,760 | $41,500 |
| 124 | Green Bay, WI | $39,580 | $32,990 | $42,830 | $42,520 |
| 125 | Pueblo, CO | $39,460 | $31,470 | $43,390 | $43,000 |
| 126 | Crestview, FL | $39,250 | $32,510 | $42,580 | $40,450 |
| 127 | Jonesboro, AR | $39,250 | $27,890 | $44,840 | $45,710 |
| 128 | Tucson, AZ | $39,210 | $33,530 | $42,020 | $40,470 |
| 129 | La Crosse, WI-MN | $39,190 | $33,320 | $42,060 | $42,710 |
| 130 | Bloomington, IL | $39,170 | $32,510 | $42,450 | $41,880 |
| 131 | Janesville, WI | $39,170 | $33,200 | $42,100 | $41,800 |
| 132 | Helena, MT | $39,100 | $32,450 | $42,390 | $40,870 |
| 133 | Hilton Head Island, SC | $39,060 | $31,680 | $42,680 | $39,850 |
| 134 | Battle Creek, MI | $39,040 | $31,280 | $42,850 | $43,120 |
| 135 | Allentown, PA-NJ | $39,020 | $32,180 | $42,410 | $39,030 |
| 136 | Billings, MT | $39,000 | $31,350 | $42,790 | $41,700 |
| 137 | Appleton, WI | $38,940 | $32,800 | $41,970 | $42,130 |
| 138 | Sebastian, FL | $38,900 | $33,450 | $41,600 | $39,570 |
| 139 | Durham, NC | $38,850 | $30,490 | $42,970 | $39,820 |
| 140 | Lincoln, NE | $38,830 | $33,260 | $41,580 | $42,400 |
| 141 | Miami, FL | $38,790 | $33,380 | $41,430 | $33,980 |
| 142 | Asheville, NC | $38,690 | $30,760 | $42,580 | $40,090 |
| 143 | Gainesville, GA | $38,690 | $31,100 | $42,430 | $39,980 |
| 144 | Nashville, TN | $38,690 | $31,890 | $42,020 | $40,160 |
| 145 | Eau Claire, WI | $38,670 | $33,110 | $41,390 | $41,670 |
| 146 | Wausau, WI | $38,670 | $32,740 | $41,580 | $41,740 |
| 147 | Paducah, KY-IL | $38,600 | $28,230 | $43,720 | $44,840 |
| 148 | Carson City, NV | $38,580 | $28,540 | $43,530 | $39,320 |
| 149 | Provo, UT | $38,580 | $30,530 | $42,540 | $39,270 |
| 150 | Charlottesville, VA | $38,540 | $32,820 | $41,350 | $38,870 |
| 151 | Grand Rapids, MI | $38,540 | $32,740 | $41,390 | $40,340 |
| 152 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $38,540 | $31,120 | $42,200 | $41,410 |
| 153 | Missoula, MT | $38,460 | $31,820 | $41,720 | $39,880 |
| 154 | Lafayette, IN | $38,440 | $31,240 | $42,000 | $41,140 |
| 155 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $38,440 | $31,450 | $41,870 | $42,170 |
| 156 | St. George, UT | $38,420 | $31,120 | $42,020 | $39,480 |
| 157 | Albuquerque, NM | $38,400 | $32,640 | $41,230 | $40,190 |
| 158 | Jackson, MI | $38,380 | $32,590 | $41,250 | $41,820 |
| 159 | Fond du Lac, WI | $38,360 | $31,950 | $41,520 | $41,860 |
| 160 | North Port, FL | $38,360 | $31,820 | $41,560 | $37,450 |
| 161 | Harrisonburg, VA | $38,190 | $32,640 | $40,910 | $40,250 |
| 162 | Rapid City, SD | $38,020 | $31,950 | $41,020 | $42,640 |
| 163 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $37,980 | $31,050 | $41,410 | $38,640 |
| 164 | Lake Havasu City, AZ | $37,980 | $32,820 | $40,520 | $40,360 |
| 165 | Lakeland, FL | $37,980 | $32,760 | $40,540 | $39,100 |
| 166 | Richmond, VA | $37,980 | $32,570 | $40,640 | $38,810 |
| 167 | Decatur, IL | $37,960 | $31,870 | $40,980 | $42,930 |
| 168 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $37,960 | $31,260 | $41,270 | $41,880 |
| 169 | Akron, OH | $37,880 | $31,760 | $40,870 | $40,570 |
| 170 | Lancaster, PA | $37,840 | $30,280 | $41,540 | $38,510 |
| 171 | Lexington, KY | $37,840 | $30,640 | $41,370 | $40,740 |
| 172 | Logan, UT-ID | $37,750 | $30,510 | $41,310 | $39,350 |
| 173 | Atlanta, GA | $37,730 | $31,570 | $40,790 | $37,710 |
| 174 | Dallas, TX | $37,710 | $30,200 | $41,410 | $36,580 |
| 175 | Casper, WY | $37,690 | $31,200 | $40,870 | $40,170 |
| 176 | Punta Gorda, FL | $37,690 | $31,490 | $40,750 | $37,490 |
| 177 | Detroit, MI | $37,650 | $32,010 | $40,410 | $37,540 |
| 178 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $37,630 | $31,240 | $40,770 | $39,460 |
| 179 | Farmington, NM | $37,610 | $30,640 | $41,060 | $42,880 |
| 180 | Omaha, NE-IA | $37,560 | $31,680 | $40,460 | $40,870 |
| 181 | Boise City, ID | $37,520 | $29,990 | $41,230 | $38,130 |
| 182 | South Bend, IN-MI | $37,520 | $31,840 | $40,330 | $40,410 |
| 183 | Lebanon, PA | $37,500 | $30,450 | $40,980 | $40,230 |
| 184 | Midland, TX | $37,500 | $30,140 | $41,120 | $39,150 |
| 185 | Cleveland, OH | $37,460 | $31,600 | $40,350 | $39,880 |
| 186 | Jacksonville, FL | $37,460 | $32,010 | $40,120 | $37,650 |
| 187 | Wildwood, FL | $37,420 | $31,870 | $40,160 | $43,810 |
| 188 | Great Falls, MT | $37,400 | $30,310 | $40,890 | $38,620 |
| 189 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $37,400 | $32,180 | $39,960 | $37,310 |
| 190 | Charlotte, NC-SC | $37,320 | $29,740 | $41,040 | $38,340 |
| 191 | Kankakee, IL | $37,290 | $31,910 | $39,960 | $38,680 |
| 192 | Bloomington, IN | $37,250 | $31,120 | $40,250 | $39,180 |
| 193 | Sebring, FL | $37,230 | $31,890 | $39,850 | $40,260 |
| 194 | Ames, IA | $37,210 | $30,040 | $40,730 | $41,890 |
| 195 | Gainesville, FL | $37,210 | $30,990 | $40,270 | $38,470 |
| 196 | Austin, TX | $37,130 | $28,450 | $41,390 | $37,860 |
| 197 | State College, PA | $37,130 | $29,520 | $40,890 | $38,370 |
| 198 | Tampa, FL | $37,110 | $32,840 | $39,190 | $36,780 |
| 199 | York, PA | $37,110 | $29,100 | $41,080 | $38,660 |
| 200 | Dayton, OH | $37,090 | $30,120 | $40,520 | $40,010 |
| 201 | Raleigh, NC | $37,090 | $29,020 | $41,080 | $37,790 |
| 202 | Reading, PA | $37,040 | $30,080 | $40,460 | $38,160 |
| 203 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $37,000 | $30,930 | $40,000 | $38,910 |
| 204 | Cape Coral, FL | $36,940 | $34,300 | $38,250 | $36,090 |
| 205 | Charleston, SC | $36,920 | $28,930 | $40,850 | $36,570 |
| 206 | Lansing, MI | $36,920 | $29,640 | $40,500 | $38,870 |
| 207 | Peoria, IL | $36,900 | $32,160 | $39,250 | $40,450 |
| 208 | Winchester, VA-WV | $36,860 | $31,720 | $39,400 | $38,220 |
| 209 | Palm Bay, FL | $36,840 | $31,370 | $39,540 | $36,840 |
| 210 | Toledo, OH | $36,840 | $30,410 | $40,000 | $40,280 |
| 211 | Blacksburg, VA | $36,820 | $30,160 | $40,080 | $39,720 |
| 212 | Roanoke, VA | $36,800 | $31,570 | $39,350 | $39,310 |
| 213 | Lawrence, KS | $36,770 | $28,890 | $40,640 | $40,750 |
| 214 | Harrisburg, PA | $36,730 | $29,830 | $40,140 | $37,230 |
| 215 | Fayetteville, NC | $36,670 | $28,700 | $40,600 | $39,870 |
| 216 | Indianapolis, IN | $36,670 | $30,660 | $39,620 | $38,320 |
| 217 | Sheboygan, WI | $36,670 | $26,710 | $41,580 | $39,000 |
| 218 | Deltona, FL | $36,610 | $32,410 | $38,690 | $36,840 |
| 219 | Fort Wayne, IN | $36,590 | $29,720 | $39,980 | $39,530 |
| 220 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $36,590 | $29,390 | $40,140 | $39,540 |
| 221 | Cheyenne, WY | $36,520 | $28,830 | $40,310 | $37,850 |
| 222 | Yuma, AZ | $36,480 | $31,390 | $38,980 | $39,350 |
| 223 | Pittsburgh, PA | $36,460 | $29,760 | $39,770 | $38,510 |
| 224 | Panama City, FL | $36,420 | $32,180 | $38,500 | $37,430 |
| 225 | Springfield, IL | $36,400 | $31,300 | $38,920 | $39,250 |
| 226 | Hagerstown, MD-WV | $36,380 | $28,040 | $40,480 | $38,630 |
| 227 | Ogden, UT | $36,380 | $28,350 | $40,330 | $36,250 |
| 228 | Niles, MI | $36,360 | $31,450 | $38,770 | $39,360 |
| 229 | Pinehurst, NC | $36,320 | $29,080 | $39,870 | $41,120 |
| 230 | Erie, PA | $36,300 | $28,500 | $40,140 | $39,910 |
| 231 | Greensboro, NC | $36,230 | $29,720 | $39,460 | $39,010 |
| 232 | Midland, MI | $36,230 | $31,760 | $38,440 | $39,410 |
| 233 | Elkhart, IN | $36,210 | $30,620 | $38,960 | $40,090 |
| 234 | Kalamazoo, MI | $36,150 | $29,700 | $39,330 | $38,120 |
| 235 | Des Moines, IA | $36,110 | $29,000 | $39,620 | $39,380 |
| 236 | Saginaw, MI | $36,110 | $29,370 | $39,420 | $39,730 |
| 237 | Springfield, OH | $36,090 | $29,620 | $39,270 | $39,890 |
| 238 | Las Cruces, NM | $36,070 | $32,010 | $38,060 | $39,980 |
| 239 | Winston, NC | $35,960 | $30,160 | $38,810 | $39,070 |
| 240 | Muskegon, MI | $35,940 | $29,930 | $38,920 | $38,850 |
| 241 | Sierra Vista, AZ | $35,920 | $32,010 | $37,860 | $40,250 |
| 242 | Pensacola, FL | $35,860 | $30,640 | $38,420 | $36,700 |
| 243 | Staunton, VA | $35,820 | $30,180 | $38,580 | $39,310 |
| 244 | Grand Island, NE | $35,800 | $30,780 | $38,270 | $41,310 |
| 245 | Rockford, IL | $35,800 | $31,200 | $38,060 | $38,850 |
| 246 | Sandusky, OH | $35,800 | $30,370 | $38,480 | $40,100 |
| 247 | Mansfield, OH | $35,710 | $28,660 | $39,190 | $40,180 |
| 248 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $35,670 | $28,910 | $39,020 | $40,100 |
| 249 | Lima, OH | $35,630 | $29,620 | $38,600 | $39,740 |
| 250 | Wilmington, NC | $35,570 | $28,870 | $38,880 | $36,890 |
| 251 | Davenport, IA-IL | $35,530 | $30,200 | $38,150 | $39,890 |
| 252 | Dubuque, IA | $35,530 | $27,560 | $39,440 | $40,690 |
| 253 | Gettysburg, PA | $35,510 | $28,910 | $38,750 | $37,230 |
| 254 | Houston, TX | $35,510 | $27,310 | $39,540 | $36,000 |
| 255 | Lynchburg, VA | $35,480 | $28,770 | $38,790 | $39,700 |
| 256 | Monroe, MI | $35,460 | $30,430 | $37,940 | $37,930 |
| 257 | Michigan City, IN | $35,420 | $26,960 | $39,580 | $38,630 |
| 258 | Fayetteville, AR | $35,400 | $28,290 | $38,920 | $38,750 |
| 259 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $35,380 | $31,990 | $37,040 | $37,850 |
| 260 | Iowa City, IA | $35,360 | $27,480 | $39,250 | $38,640 |
| 261 | Canton, OH | $35,340 | $29,000 | $38,460 | $39,530 |
| 262 | Kokomo, IN | $35,340 | $27,930 | $39,000 | $39,420 |
| 263 | San Antonio, TX | $35,280 | $27,460 | $39,150 | $37,250 |
| 264 | Scranton, PA | $35,210 | $28,450 | $38,540 | $37,640 |
| 265 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $35,190 | $28,910 | $38,290 | $40,700 |
| 266 | Columbia, MO | $35,150 | $29,290 | $38,040 | $39,300 |
| 267 | Williamsport, PA | $35,130 | $28,410 | $38,440 | $38,040 |
| 268 | Goldsboro, NC | $35,070 | $27,750 | $38,670 | $39,640 |
| 269 | Twin Falls, ID | $34,960 | $27,290 | $38,730 | $37,960 |
| 270 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $34,940 | $29,240 | $37,750 | $37,310 |
| 271 | Columbus, IN | $34,920 | $28,230 | $38,230 | $37,550 |
| 272 | Savannah, GA | $34,900 | $28,770 | $37,940 | $36,660 |
| 273 | Augusta, GA-SC | $34,880 | $26,790 | $38,850 | $37,950 |
| 274 | Jackson, TN | $34,880 | $27,350 | $38,600 | $40,780 |
| 275 | Burlington, NC | $34,860 | $26,920 | $38,790 | $37,410 |
| 276 | Kingsport, TN-VA | $34,860 | $28,040 | $38,210 | $40,330 |
| 277 | Tallahassee, FL | $34,840 | $29,560 | $37,440 | $37,100 |
| 278 | Brunswick, GA | $34,820 | $27,370 | $38,500 | $39,700 |
| 279 | Bay City, MI | $34,800 | $29,680 | $37,320 | $37,860 |
| 280 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $34,780 | $29,290 | $37,480 | $40,260 |
| 281 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $34,760 | $28,790 | $37,710 | $38,000 |
| 282 | Killeen, TX | $34,760 | $26,640 | $38,770 | $38,140 |
| 283 | Waterloo, IA | $34,650 | $27,910 | $37,960 | $39,800 |
| 284 | Idaho Falls, ID | $34,590 | $28,390 | $37,630 | $36,640 |
| 285 | Evansville, IN | $34,490 | $29,620 | $36,880 | $37,680 |
| 286 | Knoxville, TN | $34,470 | $28,020 | $37,650 | $37,240 |
| 287 | Greenville, NC | $34,440 | $28,620 | $37,320 | $38,960 |
| 288 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $34,400 | $26,310 | $38,400 | $37,320 |
| 289 | Flint, MI | $34,340 | $29,240 | $36,860 | $36,910 |
| 290 | Jacksonville, NC | $34,340 | $27,230 | $37,840 | $37,290 |
| 291 | Springfield, MO | $34,340 | $29,560 | $36,710 | $38,770 |
| 292 | Altoona, PA | $34,320 | $27,060 | $37,900 | $38,340 |
| 293 | Hot Springs, AR | $34,240 | $27,290 | $37,650 | $39,940 |
| 294 | Lawton, OK | $34,220 | $25,400 | $38,580 | $39,820 |
| 295 | Waco, TX | $34,220 | $27,120 | $37,710 | $36,970 |
| 296 | Hickory, NC | $34,150 | $27,290 | $37,520 | $38,590 |
| 297 | Muncie, IN | $34,150 | $28,640 | $36,860 | $38,740 |
| 298 | Sherman, TX | $34,150 | $27,310 | $37,540 | $36,420 |
| 299 | Youngstown, OH | $34,130 | $27,850 | $37,230 | $39,050 |
| 300 | Chambersburg, PA | $34,110 | $26,310 | $37,940 | $36,040 |
| 301 | Ocala, FL | $34,070 | $30,100 | $36,030 | $35,780 |
| 302 | Columbia, SC | $34,050 | $26,170 | $37,940 | $36,350 |
| 303 | College Station, TX | $34,010 | $27,830 | $37,040 | $37,390 |
| 304 | San Angelo, TX | $33,970 | $24,790 | $38,480 | $36,740 |
| 305 | Topeka, KS | $33,950 | $27,910 | $36,920 | $38,220 |
| 306 | Greenville, SC | $33,900 | $27,500 | $37,070 | $36,350 |
| 307 | Cleveland, TN | $33,860 | $24,690 | $38,400 | $38,440 |
| 308 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $33,820 | $27,850 | $36,750 | $37,190 |
| 309 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $33,700 | $29,290 | $35,880 | $39,150 |
| 310 | Terre Haute, IN | $33,610 | $27,710 | $36,520 | $38,280 |
| 311 | Wichita Falls, TX | $33,570 | $26,270 | $37,150 | $37,500 |
| 312 | Odessa, TX | $33,550 | $27,000 | $36,770 | $35,730 |
| 313 | Jefferson City, MO | $33,450 | $28,750 | $35,760 | $38,020 |
| 314 | Pocatello, ID | $33,430 | $27,730 | $36,230 | $37,600 |
| 315 | Morgantown, WV | $33,320 | $26,710 | $36,570 | $35,700 |
| 316 | Little Rock, AR | $33,220 | $27,540 | $36,030 | $37,170 |
| 317 | Athens, GA | $33,180 | $27,620 | $35,900 | $35,550 |
| 318 | Rome, GA | $33,070 | $27,930 | $35,590 | $36,680 |
| 319 | Manhattan, KS | $32,930 | $26,870 | $35,900 | $36,520 |
| 320 | Macon, GA | $32,880 | $27,480 | $35,530 | $37,140 |
| 321 | Amarillo, TX | $32,800 | $25,690 | $36,300 | $35,720 |
| 322 | Brownsville, TX | $32,720 | $24,290 | $36,860 | $38,060 |
| 323 | Joplin, MO-KS | $32,640 | $28,480 | $34,690 | $38,080 |
| 324 | Spartanburg, SC | $32,570 | $24,710 | $36,440 | $35,770 |
| 325 | Rocky Mount, NC | $32,470 | $26,000 | $35,650 | $36,890 |
| 326 | Weirton, WV-OH | $32,470 | $26,460 | $35,420 | $36,470 |
| 327 | Bowling Green, KY | $32,360 | $28,140 | $34,440 | $35,880 |
| 328 | Wichita, KS | $32,340 | $26,040 | $35,440 | $36,360 |
| 329 | Columbus, GA-AL | $32,260 | $24,860 | $35,900 | $36,130 |
| 330 | Johnstown, PA | $32,240 | $26,480 | $35,090 | $37,520 |
| 331 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $32,140 | $26,190 | $35,050 | $36,390 |
| 332 | Albany, GA | $32,120 | $25,520 | $35,360 | $36,640 |
| 333 | Elizabethtown, KY | $32,120 | $28,580 | $33,860 | $35,460 |
| 334 | Johnson City, TN | $31,990 | $26,150 | $34,860 | $36,380 |
| 335 | Tyler, TX | $31,990 | $25,940 | $34,990 | $34,710 |
| 336 | Lake Charles, LA | $31,950 | $24,610 | $35,550 | $37,220 |
| 337 | Florence, SC | $31,930 | $25,130 | $35,260 | $36,800 |
| 338 | Warner Robins, GA | $31,680 | $26,350 | $34,320 | $33,780 |
| 339 | Corpus Christi, TX | $31,660 | $25,190 | $34,840 | $34,160 |
| 340 | Tulsa, OK | $31,620 | $25,480 | $34,630 | $35,440 |
| 341 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $31,620 | $23,230 | $35,760 | $36,050 |
| 342 | Oklahoma City, OK | $31,600 | $24,000 | $35,320 | $34,950 |
| 343 | Slidell, LA | $31,600 | $26,290 | $34,200 | $34,080 |
| 344 | Abilene, TX | $31,550 | $25,210 | $34,690 | $34,910 |
| 345 | Beckley, WV | $31,370 | $25,170 | $34,400 | $35,500 |
| 346 | Beaumont, TX | $31,350 | $25,460 | $34,240 | $34,820 |
| 347 | Owensboro, KY | $31,320 | $28,310 | $32,800 | $35,350 |
| 348 | Huntington, WV-KY-OH | $31,300 | $25,460 | $34,200 | $35,400 |
| 349 | Lubbock, TX | $31,050 | $24,690 | $34,170 | $34,000 |
| 350 | Valdosta, GA | $30,740 | $25,080 | $33,530 | $34,820 |
| 351 | Charleston, WV | $30,720 | $25,170 | $33,470 | $34,630 |
| 352 | Longview, TX | $30,640 | $24,270 | $33,780 | $34,240 |
| 353 | Shreveport, LA | $30,580 | $24,210 | $33,720 | $36,080 |
| 354 | Morristown, TN | $30,350 | $24,040 | $33,450 | $35,140 |
| 355 | Victoria, TX | $30,200 | $24,130 | $33,200 | $33,620 |
| 356 | New Orleans, LA | $30,120 | $20,800 | $34,690 | $32,530 |
| 357 | Parkersburg, WV | $30,040 | $24,900 | $32,570 | $34,500 |
| 358 | Gulfport, MS | $29,850 | $22,730 | $33,360 | $33,160 |
| 359 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $29,760 | $24,500 | $32,340 | $34,650 |
| 360 | McAllen, TX | $29,640 | $22,880 | $32,970 | $34,510 |
| 361 | Auburn, AL | $29,540 | $20,430 | $34,010 | $33,590 |
| 362 | Huntsville, AL | $29,120 | $21,610 | $32,820 | $31,290 |
| 363 | El Paso, TX | $29,100 | $21,110 | $33,030 | $32,360 |
| 364 | Birmingham, AL | $29,000 | $20,720 | $33,050 | $31,640 |
| 365 | Eagle Pass, TX | $28,580 | $23,300 | $31,200 | $34,100 |
| 366 | Ponce, PR | $28,540 | $22,050 | $31,740 | N/A |
| 367 | Mobile, AL | $28,410 | $20,490 | $32,320 | $32,250 |
| 368 | Hattiesburg, MS | $28,350 | $22,150 | $31,390 | $32,350 |
| 369 | Laredo, TX | $28,350 | $21,110 | $31,930 | $32,600 |
| 370 | Jackson, MS | $28,200 | $21,550 | $31,490 | $31,670 |
| 371 | Aguadilla, PR | $28,060 | $21,920 | $31,100 | N/A |
| 372 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $28,000 | $23,110 | $30,410 | $33,330 |
| 373 | San Juan, PR | $27,890 | $22,240 | $30,680 | N/A |
| 374 | Daphne, AL | $27,870 | $20,740 | $31,410 | $29,430 |
| 375 | Sumter, SC | $27,830 | $19,260 | $32,050 | $31,620 |
| 376 | Enid, OK | $27,730 | $23,110 | $29,990 | $32,910 |
| 377 | Guayama, PR | $27,580 | $21,840 | $30,390 | N/A |
| 378 | Baton Rouge, LA | $27,080 | $21,780 | $29,700 | $29,830 |
| 379 | Arecibo, PR | $27,040 | $21,840 | $29,600 | N/A |
| 380 | Lafayette, LA | $27,000 | $19,760 | $30,560 | $30,960 |
| 381 | Mayaguez, PR | $26,960 | $21,840 | $29,470 | N/A |
| 382 | Dothan, AL | $26,790 | $19,780 | $30,240 | $31,960 |
| 383 | Montgomery, AL | $26,500 | $19,530 | $29,930 | $29,550 |
| 384 | Florence, AL | $26,420 | $20,450 | $29,350 | $31,150 |
| 385 | Houma, LA | $26,150 | $22,530 | $27,910 | $30,730 |
| 386 | Decatur, AL | $26,040 | $19,550 | $29,220 | $29,860 |
| 387 | Anniston, AL | $25,770 | $19,860 | $28,680 | $29,980 |
| 388 | Hammond, LA | $25,420 | $20,200 | $28,000 | $30,100 |
| 389 | Gadsden, AL | $25,270 | $19,390 | $28,160 | $29,500 |
| 390 | Alexandria, LA | $25,190 | $19,570 | $27,960 | $29,400 |
| 391 | Monroe, LA | $24,610 | $19,780 | $26,980 | $29,440 |
More
More on cooks
Method
About these numbers
- Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
- Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
- OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
- At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.
Questions
Cook, Institution and Cafeteria salary by city: FAQ
Which city pays cooks the most?
Kahului, HI, where the average (mean) wage is $57,760 a year, followed by San Jose, CA ($54,290), Seattle, WA ($53,810), Barnstable Town, MA ($52,850). The national mean is $38,810 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Where do cooks earn the most after cost of living?
Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in Barnstable Town, MA ($53,740 at national prices, $52,850 nominal), Kahului, HI ($52,800 at national prices, $57,760 nominal), Mount Vernon, WA ($50,700 at national prices, $51,940 nominal).
How much do cooks make in the biggest cities?
New York, NY-NJ: $48,130; Los Angeles, CA: $46,490; Chicago, IL-IN: $40,810; Dallas, TX: $37,710; Houston, TX: $35,510 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).
Where do cooks earn the least?
Of the 391 metro areas with their own estimate, Monroe, LA has the lowest mean wage, $24,610. At local prices that is worth $29,440.