Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Buffalo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,470 a year or less, while the top 10% make $52,160 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Buffalo earn between $37,890 and $46,920.
- $35K10th
- $38K25th
- $42KMedian
- $47K75th
- $52K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,220 | $3,602 | $20.78 |
| Median | $41,860 | $3,488 | $20.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,890 | $3,158 | $18.22 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,920 | $3,910 | $22.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Buffalo vs. New York and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Buffalo earn 8% less than the New York average ($46,850) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +12% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | $43,220 | $41,860 | $35,470 | $52,160 | 1,110 |
| New York | $46,850 | $45,880 | $36,280 | $59,620 | 17,670 |
| 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 Buffalo
On the average salary of $43,220, a single filer in Buffalo takes home about $35,135 a year, or $2,928 a month and $1,351 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Buffalo a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Buffalo area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.8), so the average $43,220 buys what about $45,094 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Buffalo ($50,790). A typical home costs $288,316, or 6.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other New York cities
Buffalo ranks 7th of 13 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($48,130).
- New York$48,130
- Kiryas Joel$46,660
- Kingston$45,620
- Ithaca$45,070
- Albany$43,760
- Syracuse$43,410
- Buffalo$43,220
- Utica$42,420
- Binghamton$42,010
- Glens Falls$41,810
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 Buffalo: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Buffalo?
$20.78 an hour on average, and $20.12 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Buffalo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,470 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,890, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Buffalo?
About $35,135 a year ($2,928 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,220. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Buffalo than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY (15380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.73, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.73).
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