Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Fresno
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,790 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,910 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Fresno earn between $37,220 and $45,390.
- $36K10th
- $37K25th
- $43KMedian
- $45K75th
- $51K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,890 | $3,574 | $20.62 |
| Median | $42,580 | $3,548 | $20.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,220 | $3,102 | $17.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $45,390 | $3,782 | $21.82 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Fresno vs. California and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Fresno earn 10% less than the California average ($47,900) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +14% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno | $42,890 | $42,580 | $35,790 | $50,910 | 900 |
| 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 Fresno
On the average salary of $42,890, a single filer in Fresno takes home about $35,791 a year, or $2,983 a month and $1,377 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 Fresno a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fresno area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.2), so the average $42,890 buys what about $41,984 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Fresno ($46,910). A typical home costs $409,749, or 9.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other California cities
Fresno ranks 23rd 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
- Fresno$42,890
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 Fresno: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Fresno?
$20.62 an hour on average, and $20.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Fresno?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,790 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,220, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Fresno?
About $35,791 a year ($2,983 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,890. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Fresno than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Fresno, CA (23420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 0.67, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.67).
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