Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Pocatello
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,410 a year or less, while the top 10% make $39,010 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Pocatello earn between $29,690 and $36,500.
- $26K10th
- $30K25th
- $34KMedian
- $36K75th
- $39K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,430 | $2,786 | $16.07 |
| Median | $33,720 | $2,810 | $16.21 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,690 | $2,474 | $14.27 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,500 | $3,042 | $17.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Pocatello vs. Idaho and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Pocatello earn 8% less than the Idaho average ($36,160) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocatello | $33,430 | $33,720 | $26,410 | $39,010 | 190 |
| Idaho | $36,160 | $35,600 | $28,330 | $45,550 | 3,650 |
| 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 Pocatello
On the average salary of $33,430, a single filer in Pocatello takes home about $28,377 a year, or $2,365 a month and $1,091 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Idaho's zero bracket uses the latest published amount ($4,811, 2025).
Is Pocatello a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Pocatello area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.9), so the average $33,430 buys what about $37,602 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Pocatello ($45,160). A typical home costs $354,583, or 10.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Idaho cities
Pocatello ranks 6th of 6 Idaho metro areas for this job; Lewiston pays the most ($38,430).
- Lewiston$38,430
- Coeur d'Alene$37,990
- Boise$37,520
- Twin Falls$34,960
- Idaho Falls$34,580
- Pocatello$33,430
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 Pocatello: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Pocatello?
$16.07 an hour on average, and $16.21 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Pocatello?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,410 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,690, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Pocatello?
About $28,377 a year ($2,365 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,430. Idaho's zero bracket uses the latest published amount ($4,811, 2025).
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Pocatello than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less 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 Pocatello, ID (38540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Idaho's zero bracket uses the latest published amount ($4,811, 2025).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.73, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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