Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria · Washington

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Washington

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Washington earn a median annual wage of $49,670 —32.6% above the national median of $37,450. That ranks WA #1 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$49,670
Median hourly
$23.88
Entry level (P10)
$39,820
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$62,840
90th percentile
Employment
9,780
2.8 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+32.6%
U.S. $37,450

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$39,820
$45,760
$49,670
$58,220
$39,820$49,670$62,840
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $49,670.

Employment concentration (0.97×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Washington is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Washington$49,670$23.889,7800.97
2Alaska$48,580$23.361,4301.55
3Massachusetts$47,790$22.987,4300.72
4Hawaii$47,770$22.971,5700.88
5Rhode Island$46,570$22.391,1900.84
6California$46,390$22.3131,6600.61
7Vermont$46,370$22.291,3301.55
8Connecticut$46,120$22.174,5000.94
9New York$45,880$22.0617,6700.64
10District of Columbia$45,450$21.851,5000.75

Related occupations in Washington

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Washington.

OccupationWashington medianU.S. median
Fast Food and Counter Workers$37,710$31,200
Waiters and Waitresses$56,130$35,230
Cooks, Restaurant$46,800$37,390
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$59,400$44,080
Food Preparation Workers$40,910$35,320
Bartenders$55,830$34,340

Frequently asked questions

How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Washington?

The median annual wage for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Washington is $49,670, or $23.88 per hour. That is 32.6% above the national median of $37,450.

What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Washington?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $39,820 per year ($19.15/hour). The 25th percentile is $45,760.

How many people work as cooks, institution and cafeteria in Washington?

About 9,780 people work in this occupation in Washington, or 2.8 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Washington a good state for cooks, institution and cafeteria?

Washington ranks #1 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.97x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays cooks, institution and cafeteria the most?

Washington has the highest median wage at $49,670 per year, followed by Alaska ($48,580) and Massachusetts ($47,790).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes