Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Rochester, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Rochester, NY

Median annual salary $39,270 +7.7% vs national
Median hourly $18.88
10th percentile $31,740
90th percentile $50,370
Employed locally 1,220
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
in
Rochester, NY
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,740
    25th
    $36,670
    50th (median)
    $39,270
    75th
    $45,170
    90th
    $50,370

    Rochester economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $74,438 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 53% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 47% 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
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $46,370
    Ithaca, NY $46,220
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $43,730
    Kingston, NY $41,470
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $41,010

    Related occupations in Rochester, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $33,130
    Waiters and Waitresses $45,310
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $42,540
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,920
    Food Preparation Workers $34,260
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $33,660

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Rochester, NY is $18.88, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.43 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Rochester, NY is 7.7% 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 Rochester?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $31,740 per year in Rochester, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,670.