Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Salem, OR

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Salem, OR

Median annual salary $44,120 +21% vs national
Median hourly $21.21
10th percentile $35,780
90th percentile $58,200
Employed locally 670
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
in
Salem, OR
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,780
    25th
    $38,290
    50th (median)
    $44,120
    75th
    $49,910
    90th
    $58,200

    Salem economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $76,010 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 58% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 42% 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
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $48,000
    Hanford-Corcoran, CA $47,920
    Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $47,540
    Anchorage, AK $46,750
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $46,370

    Related occupations in Salem, OR

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $33,320
    Waiters and Waitresses $33,470
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $44,110
    Cooks, Restaurant $37,560
    Food Preparation Workers $36,100
    Bartenders $31,160

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Salem, OR is $21.21, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $29.34 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Salem, OR is 21% 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 Salem?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $35,780 per year in Salem, OR. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $38,290.