Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Dover, DE

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Dover, DE

Median annual salary $39,900 +9.5% vs national
Median hourly $19.18
10th percentile $32,820
90th percentile $44,520
Employed locally 520
National median $36,450

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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Dover, DE
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $32,820
    25th
    $37,740
    50th (median)
    $39,900
    75th
    $43,630
    90th
    $44,520

    Dover economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $72,872 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
    Rhode Island $45,450
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $45,150
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $44,990
    Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $44,190
    Modesto, CA $43,740
    Delaware $43,490

    Related occupations in Dover, DE

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,160
    Waiters and Waitresses $33,050
    Cooks, Restaurant $34,520
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $46,140
    Food Preparation Workers $30,550
    Bartenders $35,720

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Dover, DE is $19.18, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.13 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Dover, DE is 9.5% 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 Dover?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $32,820 per year in Dover, DE. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,740.