Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Lincoln
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,740 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Lincoln earn between $35,400 and $43,250.
- $32K10th
- $35K25th
- $37KMedian
- $43K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,830 | $3,236 | $18.67 |
| Median | $36,830 | $3,069 | $17.71 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,400 | $2,950 | $17.02 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,250 | $3,604 | $20.79 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Lincoln vs. Nebraska and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Lincoln earn 4% more than the Nebraska average ($37,310) and about the same as the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $38,830 | $36,830 | $31,510 | $45,740 | 640 |
| Nebraska | $37,310 | $36,390 | $29,890 | $45,380 | 4,410 |
| 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 Lincoln
On the average salary of $38,830, a single filer in Lincoln takes home about $32,493 a year, or $2,708 a month and $1,250 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lincoln a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lincoln area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.6), so the average $38,830 buys what about $42,400 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Lincoln ($49,800). A typical home costs $304,242, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Nebraska cities
Lincoln ranks 1st of 3 Nebraska metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Lincoln$38,830
- Omaha$37,560
- Grand Island$35,800
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 Lincoln: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Lincoln?
$18.67 an hour on average, and $17.71 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Lincoln?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,400, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Lincoln?
About $32,493 a year ($2,708 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,830.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Lincoln than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Lincoln, NE (30700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.24, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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