Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in New Jersey
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in New Jersey earn a median of $44,520 a year ($21.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,490 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,060 for the top 10%. That is 19% higher than the national median of $37,450. New Jersey ranks 12th of 51 states for cooks, institution and cafeteria pay. There are 1.7 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.62). The average (mean) salary is $44,110, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,500 | $17.07 |
| 25th percentile | $37,590 | $18.07 |
| Median | $44,520 | $21.40 |
| 75th percentile | $48,090 | $23.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,060 | $25.51 |
| Average (mean) | $44,110 | $21.21 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,710 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,855 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,712.31 |
| Weekly | $856.15 |
| Hourly | $21.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in cities in New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $46,870 | 15,270 |
| Vineland, NJ | $45,510 | 110 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $42,960 | 460 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $40,240 | 320 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $38,870 | 9,810 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $38,570 | 1,750 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
Related jobs in New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $40,720 | $19.58 |
| Cooks, All Other | $46,080 | $22.15 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,150 | $16.42 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,960 | $21.62 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,420 | $23.28 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,170 | $16.43 |
| Bartender | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,390 | $17.50 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,050 | $16.37 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $74,280 | $35.71 |
| Dishwasher | $35,900 | $17.26 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in New Jersey
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2012. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in New Jersey?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in New Jersey is $44,520 a year, or $21.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in New Jersey earn at least $53,060 a year. The top 25% earn $48,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,500 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $37,590 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in New Jersey?
About 7,490 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.