← All occupations
SOC 35-2012·Food Preparation & Serving
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
Median wage
$46,442
10-yr outlook
+22.1%by 2032
Openings / year
2,912
Workers in NY
16,980
How pay grows with experience
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — typical pay by experience
Annual wages statewide: starting out, typical (median), and experienced.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Starting out (entry) | $37,381 |
| Median (typical) | $46,442 |
| Experienced | $52,346 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (NYSDOL / U.S. BLS via data.ny.gov)
Where it pays most across New York
Median pay for this occupation by region. Select a region for its full profile.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — median pay by region
Regional median annual wage, highest first.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Long Island | $49,053 |
| New York City | $48,350 |
| Hudson Valley | $47,187 |
| Capital Region | $41,902 |
| North Country | $41,034 |
| Southern Tier | $40,846 |
| Finger Lakes | $40,385 |
| Central New York | $40,378 |
| Western New York | $39,533 |
| Mohawk Valley | $39,019 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (NYSDOL / U.S. BLS via data.ny.gov)
A realistic next step
Higher-paying roles in the same field
Jobs in the same field (Food Preparation & Serving) that pay more than this one. A plain “same field, higher pay” guide — not a skills-match score.
Ways in
Lower-paying roles in the same field
Jobs in the same field (Food Preparation & Serving) that pay less than this one — often earlier-career roles or a way in.
- Cooks, All Other$43,414 median (−$3,028)
- Cooks, Restaurant$41,024 median (−$5,418) · +20.5% by 2032
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$39,090 median (−$7,352) · +23.1% by 2032
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$38,126 median (−$8,316) · +21.1% by 2032
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$37,826 median (−$8,616) · +21.4% by 2032
- Food Preparation Workers$37,049 median (−$9,393) · +9.4% by 2032
Find jobs & training
Live openings and training are run by the State and federal partners — we link you straight there.