Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Buffalo, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY

Median annual salary $38,570 +5.8% vs national
Median hourly $18.54
10th percentile $33,960
90th percentile $50,520
Employed locally 1,090
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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Buffalo, NY
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,960
    25th
    $36,870
    50th (median)
    $38,570
    75th
    $45,370
    90th
    $50,520

    Buffalo economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $70,572 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 55% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 45% 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
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $46,370
    Ithaca, NY $46,220
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $43,730
    Kingston, NY $41,470
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $41,010

    Related occupations in Buffalo, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $34,240
    Waiters and Waitresses $46,820
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $42,290
    Cooks, Restaurant $37,700
    Bartenders $49,950
    Food Preparation Workers $34,270

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Buffalo, NY is $18.54, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $25.08 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Buffalo, NY is 5.8% 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 Buffalo?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $33,960 per year in Buffalo, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,870.