Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Bakersfield
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,730 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,300 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Bakersfield earn between $38,820 and $48,460.
- $37K10th
- $39K25th
- $44KMedian
- $48K75th
- $58K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,960 | $3,747 | $21.62 |
| Median | $43,910 | $3,659 | $21.11 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,820 | $3,235 | $18.66 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,460 | $4,038 | $23.30 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Bakersfield vs. California and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Bakersfield earn 6% less than the California average ($47,900) and 16% more than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +17% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $44,960 | $43,910 | $36,730 | $58,300 | 510 |
| California | $47,900 | $46,390 | $37,570 | $59,630 | 31,660 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Bakersfield
On the average salary of $44,960, a single filer in Bakersfield takes home about $37,371 a year, or $3,114 a month and $1,437 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Bakersfield a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bakersfield area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.9), so the average $44,960 buys what about $44,565 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Bakersfield ($47,470). A typical home costs $364,264, or 8.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other California cities
Bakersfield ranks 21st of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($54,290).
- San Jose$54,290
- San Francisco$52,440
- Vallejo$50,500
- Napa$50,320
- Santa Cruz$49,350
- Santa Maria$49,070
- Santa Rosa$49,000
- San Diego$48,170
- Salinas$48,160
- Bakersfield$44,960
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Bakersfield: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Bakersfield?
$21.62 an hour on average, and $21.11 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Bakersfield?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,730 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Bakersfield?
About $37,371 a year ($3,114 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,960. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Bakersfield than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% more than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2012; area Bakersfield-Delano, CA (12540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.53, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.53).
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