Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Omaha, NE-IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Omaha, NE-IA

Median annual salary $35,660 -2.2% vs national
Median hourly $17.15
10th percentile $28,700
90th percentile $45,780
Employed locally 1,850
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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Omaha, NE-IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $28,700
    25th
    $32,580
    50th (median)
    $35,660
    75th
    $39,360
    90th
    $45,780

    Omaha economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $83,023 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 43% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 57% 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
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,910
    New Haven, CT $46,510
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $46,370
    Connecticut $45,870
    Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area $45,740
    Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area $45,720

    Related occupations in Omaha, NE-IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,770
    Waiters and Waitresses $35,090
    Food Preparation Workers $33,250
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,530
    Bartenders $30,420
    Cooks, Restaurant $37,560

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Omaha, NE-IA is $17.15, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.87 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Omaha, NE-IA is 2.2% 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 Omaha?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $28,700 per year in Omaha, NE-IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $32,580.