Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in San Jose, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

Median annual salary $48,940 +34.3% vs national
Median hourly $23.53
10th percentile $44,390
90th percentile $63,750
Employed locally 1,880
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $44,390
    25th
    $47,110
    50th (median)
    $48,940
    75th
    $57,410
    90th
    $63,750

    San Jose economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $157,444 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 31% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 69% 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
    Washington $48,260
    Alaska nonmetropolitan area $48,080

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $47,920
    Hanford-Corcoran, CA $47,920
    Napa, CA $47,910
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,910
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $46,760
    Ithaca, NY $46,220

    Related occupations in San Jose, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $42,660
    Waiters and Waitresses $40,620
    Cooks, Restaurant $46,960
    Food Preparation Workers $44,120
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $55,210
    Cooks, Fast Food $41,800

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in San Jose, CA is $23.53, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $32.57 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in San Jose, CA is 34.3% 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 San Jose?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $44,390 per year in San Jose, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,110.