Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Trenton
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $53,650 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Trenton earn between $37,370 and $48,680.
- $35K10th
- $37K25th
- $43KMedian
- $49K75th
- $54K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,300 | $3,608 | $20.82 |
| Median | $42,960 | $3,580 | $20.65 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,370 | $3,114 | $17.97 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,680 | $4,057 | $23.40 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Trenton vs. New Jersey and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Trenton earn about the same as the New Jersey average ($44,110) and 12% more than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton | $43,300 | $42,960 | $34,930 | $53,650 | 460 |
| New Jersey | $44,110 | $44,520 | $35,500 | $53,060 | 7,490 |
| 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 Trenton
On the average salary of $43,300, a single filer in Trenton takes home about $36,127 a year, or $3,011 a month and $1,389 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). New Jersey's employee unemployment, disability and family-leave contributions are not included.
Is Trenton a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Trenton area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.2), so the average $43,300 buys what about $41,965 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Trenton ($63,490). A typical home costs $446,377, or 10.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other New Jersey cities
Trenton ranks 2nd of 3 New Jersey metro areas for this job; Vineland pays the most ($44,960).
- Vineland$44,960
- Trenton$43,300
- Atlantic City$41,940
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 Trenton: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Trenton?
$20.82 an hour on average, and $20.65 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Trenton?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,930 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,370, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Trenton?
About $36,127 a year ($3,011 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,300. New Jersey's employee unemployment, disability and family-leave contributions are not included.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Trenton than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ (45940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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). New Jersey's employee unemployment, disability and family-leave contributions are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.68, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.68).
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