Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in El Centro, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • El Centro, CA

Median annual salary $41,080 +12.7% vs national
Median hourly $19.75
10th percentile $34,100
90th percentile $54,690
Employed locally 70
National median $36,450

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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El Centro, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $34,100
    25th
    $37,460
    50th (median)
    $41,080
    75th
    $47,050
    90th
    $54,690

    El Centro economic context

    Unemployment rate 18.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $56,393 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 73% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 27% 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 El Centro, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $36,600
    Cooks, Fast Food $35,690
    Waiters and Waitresses $33,310
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $45,710
    Cooks, Restaurant $38,230
    Food Preparation Workers $35,780

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in El Centro, CA is $19.75, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.54 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in El Centro, CA is 12.7% 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 El Centro?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $34,100 per year in El Centro, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,460.