Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Denver, CO

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO

Median annual salary $41,710 +14.4% vs national
Median hourly $20.06
10th percentile $36,330
90th percentile $49,740
Employed locally 4,240
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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Denver, CO
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,330
    25th
    $39,410
    50th (median)
    $41,710
    75th
    $46,970
    90th
    $49,740

    Denver economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,339 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 41% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 59% 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
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $47,920
    Hanford-Corcoran, CA $47,920
    Fairbanks-College, AK $47,410
    Connecticut $45,870

    Related occupations in Denver, CO

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $36,310
    Waiters and Waitresses $33,870
    Cooks, Restaurant $43,420
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $50,540
    Bartenders $32,530
    Food Preparation Workers $39,300

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Denver, CO is $20.06, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $24.51 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Denver, CO is 14.4% 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 Denver?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $36,330 per year in Denver, CO. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $39,410.