Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,890 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,090 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Boston earn between $45,970 and $54,910.
- $40K10th
- $46K25th
- $49KMedian
- $55K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $49,740 | $4,145 | $23.91 |
| Median | $48,530 | $4,044 | $23.33 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,970 | $3,831 | $22.10 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $54,910 | $4,576 | $26.40 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($48,750) and 28% more than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +30% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $49,740 | $48,530 | $39,890 | $59,090 | 5,310 |
| Massachusetts | $48,750 | $47,790 | $39,250 | $58,090 | 7,430 |
| 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 Boston
On the average salary of $49,740, a single filer in Boston takes home about $39,979 a year, or $3,332 a month and $1,538 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $42,146 | $3,512 |
| Working in MA | $39,979 | $3,332 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $49,740 buys what about $45,942 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 14.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 2nd of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job; Barnstable pays the most ($52,850).
- Barnstable$52,850
- Boston$49,740
- Pittsfield$47,660
- Worcester$46,920
- Amherst$45,590
- Springfield$45,070
All Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries in Massachusetts
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 Boston: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Boston?
$23.92 an hour on average, and $23.33 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,890 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,970, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Boston?
About $39,979 a year ($3,332 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $49,740. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.69, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.69).
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