Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
SOC 35-2012 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria is $35,320, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $35,920, and an estimated 435,640 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +23.3% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of +4.7% after inflation. BLS projects employment will grow 2% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $35,320 | $35,320 | 435,640 |
| 2022 | $32,510 | $33,848 | 417,780 |
| 2021 | $29,910 | $33,633 | 392,860 |
| 2020 | $28,650 | $33,730 | 387,300 |
Nominal change
+23.3%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
+4.7%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+2%
About average
Employment 2024
466,100
Projected 2034
475,400
Annual Openings
69,700
Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $35,320. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $49,810 | +41% | 150 |
| Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $47,370 | +34.1% | 790 |
| Washington | $46,610 | +32% | 11,620 |
| Massachusetts | $46,390 | +31.3% | 8,100 |
| Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $45,970 | +30.2% | 180 |
| Alaska | $45,520 | +28.9% | 1,440 |
| California | $44,940 | +27.2% | 24,260 |
| Connecticut | $44,820 | +26.9% | 3,910 |
| Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $44,680 | +26.5% | 620 |
| Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $44,230 | +25.2% | 140 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$25,290
25th Pct
$29,280
Median
$35,320
75th Pct
$40,320
90th Pct
$47,310
Related Occupations in Food Preparation & Serving
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.