Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Watertown
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,740 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Watertown earn between $35,990 and $45,770.
- $35K10th
- $36K25th
- $38KMedian
- $46K75th
- $51K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,040 | $3,420 | $19.73 |
| Median | $37,830 | $3,152 | $18.19 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,990 | $2,999 | $17.30 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $45,770 | $3,814 | $22.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Watertown vs. New York and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Watertown earn 12% less than the New York average ($46,850) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown | $41,040 | $37,830 | $34,580 | $50,740 | 100 |
| 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 Watertown
On the average salary of $41,040, a single filer in Watertown takes home about $33,503 a year, or $2,792 a month and $1,289 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 Watertown a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Watertown area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.7), so the average $41,040 buys what about $46,801 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Watertown ($47,600). A typical home costs $230,401, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other New York cities
Watertown ranks 11th 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
- Watertown$41,040
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 Watertown: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Watertown?
$19.73 an hour on average, and $18.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Watertown?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Watertown?
About $33,503 a year ($2,792 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,040. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Watertown than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY (48060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 0.89, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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