Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Santa Maria, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

Median annual salary $46,760 +28.3% vs national
Median hourly $22.48
10th percentile $36,060
90th percentile $57,050
Employed locally 410
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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Santa Maria, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,060
    25th
    $39,280
    50th (median)
    $46,760
    75th
    $53,120
    90th
    $57,050

    Santa Maria economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $95,977 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 49% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 51% 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
    Ithaca, NY $46,220

    Related occupations in Santa Maria, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $36,960
    Waiters and Waitresses $34,340
    Cooks, Restaurant $43,320
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $46,290
    Cooks, Fast Food $37,010
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $34,270

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Santa Maria, CA is $22.48, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $28.33 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Santa Maria, CA is 28.3% 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 Santa Maria?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $36,060 per year in Santa Maria, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $39,280.