Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Las Cruces
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,010 a year or less, while the top 10% make $42,120 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Las Cruces earn between $34,530 and $36,750.
- $30K10th
- $35K25th
- $36KMedian
- $37K75th
- $42K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,070 | $3,006 | $17.34 |
| Median | $36,060 | $3,005 | $17.34 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,530 | $2,878 | $16.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,750 | $3,062 | $17.67 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Las Cruces vs. New Mexico and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Las Cruces earn about the same as the New Mexico average ($37,130) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces | $36,070 | $36,060 | $30,010 | $42,120 | 350 |
| New Mexico | $37,130 | $36,470 | $28,920 | $45,330 | 3,160 |
| 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 Las Cruces
On the average salary of $36,070, a single filer in Las Cruces takes home about $30,579 a year, or $2,548 a month and $1,176 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).
Is Las Cruces a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Las Cruces area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.2), so the average $36,070 buys what about $39,984 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Las Cruces ($42,070). A typical home costs $288,339, or 8.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other New Mexico cities
Las Cruces ranks 4th of 4 New Mexico metro areas for this job; Santa Fe pays the most ($41,790).
- Santa Fe$41,790
- Albuquerque$38,390
- Farmington$37,610
- Las Cruces$36,070
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 Las Cruces: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Las Cruces?
$17.34 an hour on average, and $17.34 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Las Cruces?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,010 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,530, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Las Cruces?
About $30,579 a year ($2,548 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,070.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Las Cruces than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% 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 Las Cruces, NM (29740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 1.56, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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