Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Great Falls, MT

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Great Falls, MT

Median annual salary $36,240 -0.6% vs national
Median hourly $17.42
10th percentile $29,070
90th percentile $46,860
Employed locally 160
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Great Falls, MT stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
in
Great Falls, MT
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $29,070
    25th
    $30,950
    50th (median)
    $36,240
    75th
    $38,080
    90th
    $46,860

    Great Falls economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $66,203 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
    Binghamton, NY $39,380
    Bozeman, MT $38,670
    Billings, MT $37,320
    Missoula, MT $37,010
    Helena, MT $36,220
    Sumter, SC $26,420

    Related occupations in Great Falls, MT

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,640
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,570
    Waiters and Waitresses $22,420
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,670
    Bartenders $22,450
    Food Preparation Workers $29,910

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Great Falls, MT is $17.42, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.21 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Great Falls, MT is 0.6% below 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 Great Falls?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $29,070 per year in Great Falls, MT. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $30,950.