Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria (SOC 35-2012) employed 441,050 people in May 2025. The median pay is $37,450 a year ($18.01 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $28,480 and the highest-paid 10% more than $49,670. BLS projects its employment to change by +2.8% between 2025 and 2035 (about 62,900 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: No formal educational credential.
Highest median pay: Washington ($49,670), Alaska ($48,580), Massachusetts ($47,790). Most jobs: California (31,660), Florida (25,100), Texas (24,740).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,480 | $13.69 |
| 25th percentile | $32,440 | $15.60 |
| Median | $37,450 | $18.01 |
| Mean | $38,810 | $18.66 |
| 75th percentile | $44,800 | $21.54 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $49,670 | $23.88 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 454,000 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 466,600 |
| Change in jobs | 12,600 |
| Percent change | +2.8% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 62,900 |
| Self-employed share | n/a |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 8,780 | 1.46 | $27,120 | $20,040 | $37,960 | -28% | 48% |
| Alaska | 1,430 | 1.55 | $48,580 | $37,990 | $58,710 | +30% | 36% |
| Arizona | 7,170 | 0.78 | $39,660 | $34,490 | $48,370 | +6% | 51% |
| Arkansas | 6,530 | 1.77 | $30,240 | $25,810 | $39,720 | -19% | 39% |
| California | 31,660 | 0.61 | $46,390 | $37,570 | $59,630 | +24% | 54% |
| Colorado | 9,440 | 1.16 | $42,500 | $36,290 | $50,990 | +13% | 51% |
| Connecticut | 4,500 | 0.94 | $46,120 | $38,380 | $56,570 | +23% | 40% |
| Delaware | 2,680 | 1.95 | $44,080 | $35,870 | $47,560 | +18% | 42% |
| District of Columbia | 1,500 | 0.75 | $45,450 | $38,740 | $55,680 | +21% | 51% |
| Florida | 25,100 | 0.89 | $36,250 | $31,650 | $46,520 | -3% | 60% |
| Georgia | 8,220 | 0.59 | $35,090 | $28,220 | $44,540 | -6% | 52% |
| Hawaii | 1,570 | 0.88 | $47,770 | $38,250 | $65,020 | +28% | 49% |
| Idaho | 3,650 | 1.50 | $35,600 | $28,330 | $45,550 | -5% | 47% |
| Illinois | 22,840 | 1.32 | $37,440 | $31,200 | $48,130 | -0% | 42% |
| Indiana | 11,130 | 1.23 | $35,980 | $29,280 | $44,760 | -4% | 37% |
| Iowa | 8,860 | 2.00 | $35,810 | $28,030 | $44,150 | -4% | 33% |
| Kansas | 7,570 | 1.86 | $31,950 | $25,440 | $42,000 | -15% | 41% |
| Kentucky | 11,540 | 2.03 | $31,550 | $25,580 | $45,720 | -16% | 38% |
| Louisiana | 5,740 | 1.05 | $25,490 | $19,250 | $36,200 | -32% | 50% |
| Maine | 1,790 | 0.98 | $43,490 | $36,060 | $50,700 | +16% | 33% |
| Maryland | 3,370 | 0.43 | $41,380 | $35,520 | $49,750 | +10% | 50% |
| Massachusetts | 7,430 | 0.72 | $47,790 | $39,250 | $58,090 | +28% | 46% |
| Michigan | 13,500 | 1.08 | $36,870 | $29,800 | $45,540 | -2% | 38% |
| Minnesota | 7,890 | 0.94 | $43,460 | $35,520 | $52,140 | +16% | 36% |
| Mississippi | 6,420 | 1.95 | $27,390 | $20,760 | $36,620 | -27% | 43% |
| Missouri | 13,130 | 1.58 | $34,900 | $28,600 | $43,700 | -7% | 37% |
| Montana | 2,290 | 1.58 | $37,150 | $30,500 | $50,600 | -1% | 38% |
| Nebraska | 4,410 | 1.52 | $36,390 | $29,890 | $45,380 | -3% | 36% |
| Nevada | 1,650 | 0.38 | $39,430 | $32,020 | $53,520 | +5% | 52% |
| New Hampshire | 1,720 | 0.89 | $45,370 | $35,790 | $56,470 | +21% | 41% |
| New Jersey | 7,490 | 0.62 | $44,520 | $35,500 | $53,060 | +19% | 49% |
| New Mexico | 3,160 | 1.28 | $36,470 | $28,920 | $45,330 | -3% | 37% |
| New York | 17,670 | 0.64 | $45,880 | $36,280 | $59,620 | +23% | 43% |
| North Carolina | 11,170 | 0.80 | $36,140 | $28,050 | $45,130 | -3% | 44% |
| North Dakota | 1,820 | 1.49 | $39,490 | $31,300 | $48,670 | +5% | 30% |
| Ohio | 23,440 | 1.49 | $36,720 | $29,530 | $46,010 | -2% | 36% |
| Oklahoma | 10,790 | 2.23 | $29,270 | $21,620 | $38,670 | -22% | 43% |
| Oregon | 7,150 | 1.28 | $44,520 | $36,690 | $57,790 | +19% | 43% |
| Pennsylvania | 24,490 | 1.42 | $36,540 | $28,390 | $46,380 | -2% | 41% |
| Rhode Island | 1,190 | 0.84 | $46,570 | $37,890 | $58,380 | +24% | 37% |
| South Carolina | 7,850 | 1.20 | $34,960 | $21,890 | $42,680 | -7% | 44% |
| South Dakota | 2,120 | 1.63 | $36,730 | $30,140 | $45,650 | -2% | 33% |
| Tennessee | 10,680 | 1.15 | $35,570 | $27,830 | $45,430 | -5% | 43% |
| Texas | 24,740 | 0.62 | $35,360 | $24,770 | $44,840 | -6% | 50% |
| Utah | 5,610 | 1.14 | $38,200 | $28,870 | $48,600 | +2% | 50% |
| Vermont | 1,330 | 1.55 | $46,370 | $38,120 | $56,560 | +24% | 34% |
| Virginia | 11,170 | 0.96 | $37,890 | $30,000 | $47,940 | +1% | 52% |
| Washington | 9,780 | 0.97 | $49,670 | $39,820 | $62,840 | +33% | 44% |
| West Virginia | 4,420 | 2.22 | $29,740 | $23,820 | $38,470 | -21% | 36% |
| Wisconsin | 9,890 | 1.19 | $38,650 | $32,110 | $47,380 | +3% | 35% |
| Wyoming | 1,570 | 1.97 | $36,940 | $29,130 | $47,830 | -1% | 32% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,640 | $51,880 | $45,660 | $67,750 | 0.82 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 5,380 | $51,530 | $45,250 | $63,510 | 0.91 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 4,280 | $49,140 | $40,920 | $63,710 | 0.64 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 5,310 | $48,530 | $39,890 | $59,090 | 0.69 |
| Anchorage, AK | 530 | $48,290 | $38,250 | $58,300 | 1.05 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 430 | $48,210 | $37,530 | $58,920 | 0.75 |
| Boulder, CO | 820 | $48,020 | $37,060 | $59,430 | 1.49 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 490 | $47,390 | $38,890 | $59,830 | 1.44 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 1,100 | $47,380 | $41,600 | $59,580 | 0.96 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 420 | $47,260 | $39,140 | $62,070 | 0.72 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 3,070 | $47,100 | $38,210 | $59,280 | 0.70 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 600 | $47,000 | $38,020 | $52,830 | 0.73 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 15,270 | $46,870 | $36,320 | $60,160 | 0.57 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 310 | $46,820 | $39,800 | $57,670 | 0.85 |
| Salinas, CA | 350 | $46,820 | $37,900 | $60,990 | 0.65 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 1,080 | $46,780 | $37,710 | $61,710 | 0.85 |
| Worcester, MA | 690 | $46,780 | $38,040 | $55,470 | 0.69 |
| Yakima, WA | 430 | $46,730 | $38,270 | $53,320 | 1.58 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 1,460 | $46,650 | $38,690 | $56,570 | 0.86 |
| Springfield, MA | 450 | $46,440 | $36,970 | $50,110 | 0.79 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 1,630 | $46,350 | $37,540 | $58,250 | 0.81 |
| New Haven, CT | 790 | $46,000 | $39,240 | $59,820 | 0.98 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 3,920 | $45,800 | $37,810 | $58,440 | 1.14 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 650 | $45,740 | $37,270 | $57,510 | 0.85 |
| Modesto, CA | 330 | $45,480 | $37,390 | $57,700 | 0.59 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 9,860 | $45,400 | $37,100 | $59,300 | 0.55 |
| Bend, OR | 330 | $45,350 | $36,360 | $58,530 | 1.07 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 750 | $45,330 | $38,490 | $57,670 | 1.03 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 4,410 | $45,070 | $38,100 | $50,990 | 0.97 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 1,780 | $45,020 | $36,420 | $58,540 | 0.58 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 340 | $44,970 | $37,660 | $58,360 | 0.98 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 5,670 | $44,880 | $36,580 | $53,890 | 0.64 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 4,490 | $44,830 | $36,550 | $54,180 | 0.81 |
| Salem, OR | 720 | $44,690 | $35,970 | $61,020 | 1.35 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 490 | $44,670 | $33,130 | $52,720 | 0.87 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 610 | $44,570 | $37,310 | $60,640 | 0.66 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | 400 | $44,510 | $37,520 | $53,920 | 1.10 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 2,540 | $44,470 | $36,540 | $57,060 | 0.52 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 440 | $44,110 | $36,550 | $48,990 | 0.97 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 400 | $43,950 | $37,100 | $55,190 | 0.49 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 510 | $43,910 | $36,730 | $58,300 | 0.53 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | 440 | $43,890 | $35,620 | $55,350 | 0.90 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 610 | $43,820 | $34,690 | $55,470 | 1.37 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 920 | $43,550 | $36,400 | $52,070 | 0.72 |
| Reno, NV | 380 | $43,270 | $32,020 | $52,830 | 0.48 |
| Rochester, MN | 330 | $43,160 | $35,380 | $50,120 | 0.95 |
| Madison, WI | 1,030 | $42,960 | $34,050 | $48,440 | 0.89 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 460 | $42,960 | $34,930 | $53,650 | 0.68 |
| Greeley, CO | 420 | $42,950 | $37,020 | $49,950 | 1.24 |
| Fresno, CA | 900 | $42,580 | $35,790 | $50,910 | 0.67 |
| Medford, OR | 340 | $42,450 | $35,430 | $55,260 | 1.33 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 1,110 | $41,860 | $35,470 | $52,160 | 0.73 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 360 | $41,660 | $34,980 | $50,630 | 1.08 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | 520 | $41,470 | $39,390 | $51,330 | 2.81 |
| Dover, DE | 520 | $41,370 | $35,060 | $46,030 | 2.70 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | 450 | $41,120 | $35,350 | $49,930 | 1.07 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 300 | $40,590 | $35,080 | $48,120 | 1.01 |
| Syracuse, NY | 670 | $40,450 | $35,770 | $53,660 | 0.79 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 530 | $40,300 | $33,100 | $49,040 | 1.49 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 610 | $40,250 | $34,390 | $52,610 | 0.97 |
The median is $37,450 a year ($18.01 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $28,480 and the highest-paid tenth over $49,670 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
441,050 in May 2025, and BLS projects +2.8% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: No formal educational credential (BLS).
Washington, with a median of $49,670 (among states with published figures).