Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Boston, MA-NH

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Median annual salary $46,910 +28.7% vs national
Median hourly $22.55
10th percentile $38,940
90th percentile $59,260
Employed locally 5,460
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $38,940
    25th
    $42,150
    50th (median)
    $46,910
    75th
    $51,490
    90th
    $59,260

    Boston economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $112,484 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 42% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 58% 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
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Barnstable Town, MA $47,420
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $46,760
    Massachusetts $46,280
    Yakima, WA $45,880
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $45,260

    Related occupations in Boston, MA-NH

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $35,430
    Waiters and Waitresses $37,040
    Cooks, Restaurant $46,970
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $47,200
    Bartenders $36,260
    Food Preparation Workers $38,090

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Boston, MA-NH is $22.55, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $28.41 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Boston, MA-NH is 28.7% 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 Boston?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $38,940 per year in Boston, MA-NH. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $42,150.