Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in San Luis Obispo, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA

Median annual salary $43,600 +19.6% vs national
Median hourly $20.96
10th percentile $36,210
90th percentile $60,450
Employed locally 180
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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San Luis Obispo, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,210
    25th
    $38,560
    50th (median)
    $43,600
    75th
    $49,000
    90th
    $60,450

    San Luis Obispo economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $93,398 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 47% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 53% 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
    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

    Related occupations in San Luis Obispo, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $36,900
    Waiters and Waitresses $34,540
    Cooks, Restaurant $42,290
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $46,870
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $34,350
    Cooks, Fast Food $36,390

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in San Luis Obispo, CA is $20.96, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $28.06 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in San Luis Obispo, CA is 19.6% 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 Luis Obispo?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $36,210 per year in San Luis Obispo, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $38,560.