Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in New Hampshire: $47,000 Average

Home › Food Preparation and Serving › Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria › New Hampshire

Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET

Average base salary, New Hampshire

$47,000 / year

≈ $3,900 per month · $22.60 per hour

LocationOr metro areaOr industry (Grahall)Or city (Grahall)

BLS May 2025 state data for New Hampshire · median $47,000

25th percentile
$41,000Average
$47,00075th percentile
$51,000

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary by state

Alabama$29,000

Alaska$51,000

Arizona$43,000

Arkansas$34,000

California$49,500

Colorado$45,000

Connecticut$48,000

Delaware$44,000

District of Columbia$47,000

Florida$39,500

Georgia$36,500

Hawaii$54,000

Idaho$37,500

Illinois$40,500

Indiana$37,000

Iowa$36,500

Kansas$34,000

Kentucky$35,000

Louisiana$28,500

Maine$45,000

Maryland$44,000

Massachusetts$50,500

Michigan$38,500

Minnesota$44,500

Mississippi$29,000

Missouri$36,500

Montana$40,500

Nebraska$38,500

Nevada$43,500

New Hampshire$47,000

New Jersey$45,500

New Mexico$38,500

New York$48,500

North Carolina$37,500

North Dakota$42,500

Ohio$38,500

Oklahoma$31,500

Oregon$47,000

Pennsylvania$38,000

Rhode Island$48,500

South Carolina$34,500

South Dakota$39,000

Tennessee$36,500

Texas$36,000

Utah$41,000

Vermont$48,000

Virginia$41,000

Washington$53,000

West Virginia$32,500

Wisconsin$41,500

Wyoming$39,000

Total cash compensation

Base salary plus target bonus using the Grahall equation. Bonus is a function of base; higher base means a higher target bonus.

Base salary

$40,000

National baseline

Target bonus

$3,000

7.5% of base

Total target cash

$43,000

Base plus target bonus

Bonus range (25th to 75th percentile): $2,000 to $5,000

Long-term incentive (LTI) varies by industry and executive tier and is not included in this view.

About this role

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria is a professional role within the function in the Food Preparation and Serving job family.

Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

What Cooks, Institution and Cafeterias do

Typical education: High School Diploma

Monitor and record food temperatures to ensure food safety.
Cook foodstuffs according to menus, special dietary or nutritional restrictions, or numbers of portions to be served.
Rotate and store food supplies.
Wash pots, pans, dishes, utensils, or other cooking equipment.
Apportion and serve food to facility residents, employees, or patrons.

Top skills: Speaking Service Orientation Quality Control Analysis Operations Monitoring Monitoring Judgment and Decision Making

Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience level

Entry level$29,500

Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)

Early career$33,500

A few years in (about the 25th percentile)

Experienced$39,000

Mid-career median pay

Senior$46,500

Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)

Top earners$51,500

Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)

Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.

Job outlook

+2%

projected change in jobs, 2024–2034

69,700

projected openings per year

Growing slower than average

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary by industry

Educational Services

136,650 workers

$38,000

Elementary and Secondary Schools

126,950 workers

$37,500

Educational Services, Local Government Owned

120,260 workers

$37,000

Nursing and Residential Care Facilities

105,400 workers

$40,000

Food Services and Drinking Places

77,100 workers

$41,500

Special Food Services

72,630 workers

$42,000

Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities)

49,350 workers

$39,000

Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly

48,510 workers

$41,500

Hospitals

35,720 workers

$45,500

Social Assistance

32,630 workers

$37,000

National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.

How this role compares

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pays 1% below the average across 18 roles in the Food Preparation and Serving job family (family average $40,500).

Similar-paying roles in Food Preparation and Serving

Cooks, Restaurant$40,000

Cooks, All Other$40,500

Waiters and Waitresses$41,500

Bartender$42,000

Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$38,000

Cooks, Short Order$37,500

Food Preparation Worker$36,500

Dishwasher$35,500

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$34,000

Cooks, Fast Food$33,500

Careers related to Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

Cooks, Restaurant$40,000

Cooks, Short Order$37,500

Food Preparation Worker$36,500

Cooks, Private Household$55,500

Chefs and Head Cooks$69,000

Cooks, Fast Food$33,500

Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make?

The average base salary for a Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the United States is $40,000 per year, or about $19.23 per hour.

What is the typical salary range?

Pay typically falls between $33,500 and $46,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

How does this compare with other Food Preparation and Serving roles?

The Food Preparation and Serving job family averages $40,500 across 18 roles tracked by WePayFairly.

Need a defensible market price for this role?
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