Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Bakersfield, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Bakersfield-Delano, CA

Median annual salary $39,980 +9.7% vs national
Median hourly $19.22
10th percentile $35,520
90th percentile $53,490
Employed locally 460
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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Bakersfield, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,520
    25th
    $37,130
    50th (median)
    $39,980
    75th
    $46,500
    90th
    $53,490

    Bakersfield economic context

    Unemployment rate 8.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $67,660 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 59% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 41% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,840
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Washington $48,260

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $47,920
    Hanford-Corcoran, CA $47,920
    Napa, CA $47,910
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,910
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $46,760

    Related occupations in Bakersfield, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$36,440
    Waiters and Waitresses$33,350
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$45,080
    Cooks, Fast Food$35,620
    Cooks, Restaurant$37,630
    Food Preparation Workers$35,720

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Bakersfield?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Bakersfield, CA is $19.22, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $28.03 or more per hour.

    Is Bakersfield above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Bakersfield, CA is 9.7% above the national median of $36,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Bakersfield?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $35,520 per year in Bakersfield, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,130.