Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Watertown, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Watertown-Fort Drum, NY

Median annual salary $37,130 +1.9% vs national
Median hourly $17.85
10th percentile $31,890
90th percentile $51,840
Employed locally 90
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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Watertown, NY
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,890
    25th
    $34,150
    50th (median)
    $37,130
    75th
    $44,410
    90th
    $51,840

    Watertown economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $64,978 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 57% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 43% 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 Watertown, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $31,800
    Waiters and Waitresses $40,720
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,480
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,130
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $33,710
    Bartenders $37,020

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Watertown, NY is $17.85, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $24.39 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Watertown, NY is 1.9% 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 Watertown?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $31,890 per year in Watertown, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $34,150.