Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Chico, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chico, CA

Median annual salary $41,370 +13.5% vs national
Median hourly $19.89
10th percentile $36,170
90th percentile $53,880
Employed locally 140
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
in
Chico, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,170
    25th
    $37,200
    50th (median)
    $41,370
    75th
    $45,760
    90th
    $53,880

    Chico economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,574 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 60% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 40% 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
    Hanford-Corcoran, CA $47,920
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $47,920
    Napa, CA $47,910
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,910
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $46,760

    Related occupations in Chico, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$35,790
    Waiters and Waitresses$33,560
    Cooks, Restaurant$38,020
    Cooks, Fast Food$36,060
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$45,290
    Bartenders$33,760

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Chico, CA is $19.89, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $25.52 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Chico, CA is 13.5% 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 Chico?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $36,170 per year in Chico, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,200.