Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Washington leads at $49,670 a year. Pay is not adjusted for local prices; see each page for the cost-of-living view.
| Place | Median | 25th–75th |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 | $45,760–$58,220 |
| Alaska | $48,580 | $45,740–$53,470 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 | $45,080–$51,650 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 | $41,180–$59,200 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 | $40,360–$48,550 |
| California | $46,390 | $40,240–$52,060 |
| Vermont | $46,370 | $41,920–$48,620 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 | $39,960–$48,990 |
| New York | $45,880 | $38,750–$51,530 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 | $39,980–$46,950 |
| New Hampshire | $45,370 | $39,820–$49,500 |
| New Jersey | $44,520 | $37,590–$48,090 |
| Oregon | $44,520 | $38,370–$49,280 |
| Delaware | $44,080 | $39,620–$46,050 |
| Maine | $43,490 | $38,130–$47,520 |
| Minnesota | $43,460 | $37,840–$46,590 |
| Colorado | $42,500 | $38,450–$47,920 |
| Maryland | $41,380 | $37,360–$46,700 |
| Arizona | $39,660 | $36,730–$45,950 |
| North Dakota | $39,490 | $36,330–$46,340 |
| Nevada | $39,430 | $36,080–$46,440 |
| Wisconsin | $38,650 | $36,040–$44,300 |
| Utah | $38,200 | $35,640–$45,480 |
| Virginia | $37,890 | $34,920–$44,460 |
| Illinois | $37,440 | $34,560–$43,280 |
| Montana | $37,150 | $33,540–$42,900 |
| Wyoming | $36,940 | $31,960–$39,900 |
| Michigan | $36,870 | $33,360–$39,660 |
| South Dakota | $36,730 | $32,200–$40,980 |
| Ohio | $36,720 | $33,090–$39,310 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,540 | $31,160–$41,020 |
| New Mexico | $36,470 | $32,330–$39,700 |
| Nebraska | $36,390 | $34,040–$39,370 |
| Florida | $36,250 | $34,480–$39,840 |
| North Carolina | $36,140 | $31,290–$39,610 |
| Indiana | $35,980 | $31,080–$38,480 |
| Iowa | $35,810 | $30,970–$37,920 |
| Idaho | $35,600 | $30,730–$39,010 |
| Tennessee | $35,570 | $30,150–$38,860 |
| Texas | $35,360 | $29,170–$38,910 |
| Georgia | $35,090 | $30,220–$38,250 |
| South Carolina | $34,960 | $29,130–$37,250 |
| Missouri | $34,900 | $29,850–$38,000 |
| Kansas | $31,950 | $28,840–$36,030 |
| Kentucky | $31,550 | $28,880–$37,370 |
| Arkansas | $30,240 | $28,300–$35,300 |
| West Virginia | $29,740 | $27,740–$35,680 |
| Oklahoma | $29,270 | $24,960–$35,160 |
| Mississippi | $27,390 | $23,100–$29,740 |
| Alabama | $27,120 | $21,630–$33,300 |
| Louisiana | $25,490 | $22,290–$30,410 |
Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025.